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From: vern@lau.ee.lbl.gov (Vern Paxson)
Newsgroups: comp.compilers
Subject: Re: lex and yacc reference books
Keywords: lex, yacc, books
Message-ID: <7400@dog.ee.lbl.gov>
Date: 3 Oct 90 20:40:04 GMT
References: <9010030525.AA07946@iris.ucdavis.edu>
Sender: compilers-sender@esegue.segue.boston.ma.us
Reply-To: vern@lau.ee.lbl.gov (Vern Paxson)
Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley
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In article <9010030525.AA07946@iris.ucdavis.edu> worstell@iris.ucdavis.edu (Glen Worstell) writes:
>In a recent news item someone suggested a book by O'Reilly for
>information about lex and yacc.  I'd suggest that that particular
>text is quite poor - for example there is almost no mention of
>precedence.  Also, some of the examples don't even work.
>
>I found the (free) documentation for flex and bison to be much better.

The book is "lex & yacc", by Mason & Brown, published by O'Reilly &
 Associates.  I'm reviewing it for an upcoming edition of ";login:".

I have to agree with Glen - the book, unfortunately, is very low caliber.
I'm finding it difficult to condense my criticisms of it into the requested
450 words.  It's a pity, since I think there's a real niche for a good
yacc/lex book.

		Vern

	Vern Paxson				vern@helios.ee.lbl.gov
	Real Time Systems			ucbvax!helios.ee.lbl.gov!vern
	Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory		(415) 486-7504
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