CODEWITHSUNDEEP
antlrantlr4
user826323
user826323

Reputation: 2338

antlr - generate grammar from java source code

I am wondering if I can generate ANTLR grammar from java source code. I want to do some kind of research project, but I am just exploring different open sources to see which one is best.

For ANTLR, do I always have to write a grammar and pass it to the ANTLR?

Is there a way to generate grammar from an existing Java source code?

Upvotes: 0

Views: 416

Answers (1)

Ira Baxter
Ira Baxter

Reputation: 95420

Not easily. ANTLR generate a recursive descent parser from your grammar, encoding the tests into procedural code, as well as lots of other bookkeeping stuff.

Knowing how the code is generated, you might be able to take it apart but you'll have to reach into the middle of generated statements and that isn't easy without a full parser for the generated language. (Hint: regex won't work).

I don't see a lot of point of this exercise. Why don't you just use the original grammar?

Upvotes: 1

Related Questions