# Ruby oriented JavaCC-like parser generator?

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-oriented-javacc-like-parser-generator/172409>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [July 21, 2009, 3:11am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-oriented-javacc-like-parser-generator/172409 "2009-07-21T03:11:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Eric\_Tucker](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@Eric\_Tucker](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Eric_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 3:11am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-oriented-javacc-like-parser-generator/172409/1 "2009-07-21T03:11:41Z")

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I’m looking for a really solid parser generator where I can write my own  
grammar like in JavaCC or Lex/Yacc to parse files in a custom built  
language. The more portable and more efficient the better (two mutually  
exclusive requirements? 🙂 ) Any suggestions?

Thanks,  
Eric

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**Author:** ![Eric\_Tucker](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@Eric\_Tucker](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Eric_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 10:31am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-oriented-javacc-like-parser-generator/172409/2 "2009-07-21T10:31:06Z")

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Hey Eric,

Have you checked out ANTLR?

Regards,  
Gustav

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**Author:** ![Eric\_Tucker](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@Eric\_Tucker](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Eric_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 12:32pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-oriented-javacc-like-parser-generator/172409/3 "2009-07-21T12:32:42Z")

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On 7/21/09 10:10 AM, Eric Tucker wrote:

> I’m looking for a really solid parser generator where I can write my own grammar like in JavaCC or Lex/Yacc to parse files in a custom built language. The more portable and more efficient the better (two mutually exclusive requirements? 🙂 ) Any suggestions?

Racc ([Racc](http://i.loveruby.net/en/projects/racc/)) is similar to Yacc.  
You can write a grammer like in Yacc, and you can write actions in Ruby  
instead of C.

It generates a ruby class for a grammer. The generated class depends on  
racc-runtime (written in C), but the runtime is in the Ruby’s standard  
library.  
So it is efficient and portable.

– Yugui [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)

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**Author:** ![Eric\_Tucker](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@Eric\_Tucker](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Eric_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 12:56pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-oriented-javacc-like-parser-generator/172409/4 "2009-07-21T12:56:06Z")

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Gustav P. wrote:

> Have you checked out ANTLR?

Unless things have changed radically, ANTLR’s Ruby support  
is effectively non-functional.

Clifford H…

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**Author:** ![Eric\_Tucker](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@Eric\_Tucker](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Eric_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 7:57pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-oriented-javacc-like-parser-generator/172409/5 "2009-07-21T19:57:48Z")

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On Jul 20, 2009, at 18:10 , Eric Tucker wrote:

> I’m looking for a really solid parser generator where I can write my  
> own grammar like in JavaCC or Lex/Yacc to parse files in a custom  
> built language. The more portable and more efficient the better (two  
> mutually exclusive requirements? 🙂 ) Any suggestions?

most of us use racc (for better or worse)… aaron and I are  
maintaining it now and aaron has taken on rexx, tho he’s released it  
under a new name (currently forgetting, but prolly on his github).