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About this quote

What does it mean?
Wall says there’s value in returning the entire syntax tree from a parser.
In plain terms
Returning the full syntax tree has advantages.
What can you take from it?
Having the whole tree enables deeper analysis and manipulation.

Where it applies

  • compiler design
  • code analysis tools

Putting it to work

  • expose full AST to downstream tools

Questions to consider

  • When is a full AST worth the overhead?

Another view

It may increase memory usage and processing time.

More from Larry Wall

  1. You don't have to wait--you can have it in 5.004_54 or so. :-)

    Permalink to quote #151
  2. It's not really a rule--it's more like a trend.

    Permalink to quote #153
  3. Wow, I'm being shot at from both sides. That means I *must* be right. :-)

    Permalink to quote #150

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