On 30/08/12 15:43, John Maclean wrote:
Thanks. This is a heck of a lot more clearer to me! BNF, huh? Another set TLA that I don't need to know ;-)
Actually, BNF is one of those useful skills for any programmer because almost every language is 'formally' described using it - at least since the days of Algol, for which it was invented.
A simplified version of it is also used to define most command line tools and their arguments so its definitely worth learning, at least the basics. It can save a lot of typing when you want to precisely specify the allowed grammar in a problem.
There are tools which can translate BNF like text into something close to code, which is useful if you ever have to define your own programming language. Admittedly not something most programmers ever need to do, but it does happen occasionally that its the easiest way to solve a problem. (The so-called mini-language design pattern)
-- Alan G Author of the Learn to Program web site http://www.alan-g.me.uk/ _______________________________________________ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org To unsubscribe or change subscription options: http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
