Technical Specifications:

• Tool Name: re2c


• Price: FREE


• Developer: Dan Nuffer


• Category: Software Development


• Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux

Main Features:

• Write fast and flexible scanners


• Focuses on generating highly efficient code for regular expression matching


• Generates C-based recognizers from regular expressions


• Allows a broader range of use than traditional lexer tools


• Generates warning-free code equal to hand-written code in terms of size, speed, and quality

Usage Guidelines:

re2c software is a powerful tool designed to enable users to create blazing fast and versatile scanners. By emphasizing the generation of highly optimized code for regular expression matching, re2c is the go-to choice for developers seeking peak performance.

The software acts as a preprocessor that transforms C/C++ source code interspersed with specific comments into efficient recognizers based on regular expressions. These recognizers, when executed, locate the next input token and execute custom token-specific code, providing a comprehensive solution for various use cases.

Unlike conventional lexer tools, re2c does not impose default actions, assuming a sequence of tokens. Developers need to ensure a sentinel token appears at the input's end and provide a matching rule. Whether the input is from a null-byte terminated string or a file, re2c offers flexibility in handling different scenarios.

For cases where insufficient characters are available, developers can utilize YYFILL(n) to gracefully end the scanner, indicating the end of data/file detection. re2c simplifies workflows by not providing start conditions, requiring separate scanner specifications for each condition, contributing to a seamless development experience.