[REBOL] Re: More dialects than you think, validating function input.
From: brett:codeconscious at: 14-Sep-2002 10:15
Hi Gregg,
> What I was *thinking*, but didn't write in my message, was how many
parsers
> provide context information when a syntax error occurs and that PARSE
might
> be able to make available that kind of information so we don't have to do
it
> all ourselves at the individual rule level. F'rinstance:
I think I understood what the intent of your message was and even was going
to suggest a new keyword to assist with the context info, but when I thought
of some of the parse rules I'd written I could not imagine how any context
information issued from them would help me produce a meaningful response to
the user. So I unimaginatively said I don't think there is a general
solution. :^)
> Another problem I have is that I start thinking way ahead of myself about
> "what could be". I can see great potential for higher level dialects
driving
> PARSE; generating rules dynamically (including specific constraints) based
> on data from a database, previous messages in a conversation, etc.; and
> tools to help visualize and debug dialects. I just about jump out of my
seat
> when I think about some of the possibilities. :)
Hardly a problem. Perhaps just not always immediately measurably productive.
On the other hand such thinking is part of the creative search I'm sure.
Regards,
Brett.