tree-gen

tree-gen is a C++ and Python code generator for tree-like structures common in parser and compiler codebases. The tree is described using a simple and concise language, so all the repetitive C++ and Python stuff can be generated. This includes serialization and deserialization to CBOR, allowing easy interoperation between C++ and Python.

Usage and "installation"

tree-gen is a very lightweight tool, intended to be compiled along with your project rather than to actually be installed. The assumption is that your main project will be written in C++ and that you're using CMake. If these assumptions are invalid, you'll have to do some extra work on your own. If they are valid, however, it should be really easy. Just include tree-gen as a submodule or copy it into your project, then do something like

add_subdirectory(tree-gen)

# To generate the files from your tree description file:
generate_tree_py(
    "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/input-tree-specification.tree"
    "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/generated-header-file.hpp"
    "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/generated-source-file.cpp"
    "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/generated-python-file.py"
)

# To add generated-source-file.cpp to your program:
add_executable/add_library(
    my-software
    "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/generated-source-file.cpp"
)

# To add generated-header-file.hpp to the search path:
target_include_directories(
    my-software
    PRIVATE "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}"
)

# To use tree-gen's support library (you could substitute your own if you feel
# up to the task):
target_link_libraries(my-software tree-lib)

and CMake Should™ handle everything for you.

tree-gen does have some dependencies:

• A compiler with C++11 support (MSVC, GCC, and Clang are tested in CI);
• Flex 2.6.1+
• Bison 3.0+

If you're on a POSIX system and Flex/Bison are too old or not installed, the buildsystem will attempt to download and build them from source for you.

For usage information beyond this, Read The Docs.

Project structure

• generator: source and private header files for the generator program.
• src: source and private header files for the support library.
• include: public header files for the support library.
• cmake: contains CMake helper modules for building flex/bison from source if they are not installed.
• examples: examples showing how to use tree-gen. These are also used as tests, and their content and output is directly used to generate the ReadTheDocs documentation.
• tests: additional test cases for things internal to tree-gen.
• doc: documentation generation for ReadTheDocs.