On Sun, 24 Dec 2006 16:36:31 +0100, Stef Mientki wrote: > Dustan wrote: >> Kleine Aap wrote: >>> Asper Faner wrote: >>> >>>> I seem to always have hard time understaing how this regular expression >>>> works, especially how on earth do people bring it up as part of >>>> computer programming language. Natural language processing seems not >>>> enough to explain by the way. Why no eliminate it ? >>> I.M.H.O. anyone that is not capable to grasp the concept of regular >>> expressions should not attempt to write computer programs at all! My >>> suggestion to you would be to find a job that involves working with your >>> hands... >> >> Your humble opinion doesn't get much ruder... >> >> Perhaps you meant "anyone that is not capable to grasp the concept of >> regular expressions after some experience with programming should not >> attempt to write computer programs at all!" Then at least newbies would >> have a leg to stand on. >> >> Otherwise, you're practically cutting off all entrances into the world >> of programming! The concept of regular expressions isn't exactly the >> simplest one out there. Just because you understood it immediately >> (which I'm guessing you did, considering your harsh response), doesn't >> mean others find the concept that simple. >> > I agree, and in addition: > > (large) regular expressions are easy to write, > but can be almost impossible to read back ! > > I once had a program to generate and evaluate regular expressions, > but can't find it anymore :-( > > If someone has links to regex generators/evaluators, > I'ld be much obliged. > > cheers. > Stef Mientki
A good tool to write, test and analyse regexes is the Regulator, available here http://sourceforge.net/projects/regulator/ A good reference site is http://www.regular-expressions.info/, with tutorials, examples and tools -- Bits.Bytes http://bytes.thinkersroom.com -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list