Question 1

How do I parse JSON with PetitParser in Dart?

Accepted Answer

PetitParser includes a complete JSON grammar example in the repository. You can import and use the provided parser or adapt it by subclassing GrammarDefinition, then build the parser to handle objects, arrays, and primitives directly from strings.

Question 2

PetitParser vs ANTLR for Dart projects: which is better?

Accepted Answer

PetitParser excels for dynamic, composable grammars and rapid prototyping within Dart code, while ANTLR generates static parsers with potentially better performance and tooling support but requires external grammar files and code generation steps. Choose based on flexibility vs. optimization needs.

Question 3

How to handle operator precedence in PetitParser?

Accepted Answer

Use the ExpressionBuilder class to define operator groups in descending precedence with support for left, right, prefix, and postfix associativity. The tutorial shows setting up arithmetic operators like '+' and '*' with correct evaluation order.

Question 4

Is PetitParser good for large grammar files?

Accepted Answer

While flexible, large grammars may suffer from performance issues due to parser object overhead. The built-in profiling tools can identify bottlenecks, but for very extensive grammars, a generated parser might be more efficient.

Question 5

How to debug a failing parser in PetitParser?

Accepted Answer

Use the trace() function to print step-by-step parser activation and results, or profile() for performance insights. These utilities provide detailed output to pinpoint where and why a parser fails, as described in the debugging section.

Question 6

Does PetitParser generate abstract syntax trees automatically?

Accepted Answer

No, it produces parse trees that you must manually transform into ASTs using map() and other transforming parsers. This gives full control over the output structure but requires additional setup for AST generation.

PetitParser

What is PetitParser?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions