Search code examples
rakunqp

How to reuse a language token in a custom Grammar (Raku)


I want to reuse the token parameter from Perl6::Grammar in my custom slang to add a "custom-param" parameter without cargo culting.

What I mean:

my $main-grammar = $*LANG.slang_grammar('MAIN');
my $main-actions = $*LANG.slang_actions('MAIN');

role Nogil::NogilGrammar {
    token parameter { # the new one
        "custom-param" || < here the token stolen from $main-grammar.^find_method('parameter'); >
    }

my $grammar = $main-grammar.^mixin(Nogil::NogilGrammar);
my $actions = $main-actions.^mixin(Nogil::NogilActions);
$*LANG.define_slang('MAIN', $grammar, $actions);

Not sure it is clear: it is like calling the parent token in a token of a role. I know the role will overwrite it so I kept a backup of pristine object in $grammar.

Already tested:

  1. Define it as a method returning the Match object of the parent but got the following error:
P6opaque: no such attribute '$!pos' on type NQPMatch in a Scalar when trying to get a value 
  1. Return from a Regex code interpolation
Attempt to return outside of immediately-enclosing Routine (i.e. `return` execution is outside the dynamic scope of the Routine where `return` was used)

Solution

  • Intro: After many similar errors with nqp, I figured out:

    Brief: nqp + Scalar in error message -> replace = by :=

    Explain: Use the bind operator := and not assignment = which autobox in a Scalar hence the error message with Scalar.

    Demo: A fully working example (use in BEGIN phaser). Trying "my" sigil and "their" (compile in the language) in case mine fails.

    my $main-grammar = $*LANG.slang_grammar('MAIN');
    my $main-actions = $*LANG.slang_actions('MAIN');
    
    role Nogil::NogilGrammar {
    
        method sigil {
            # Bind
            my $sigil-they := $main-grammar.^find_method('sigil');
            my $sigil-me := self.sigil-eu;
            # Check My
            return $sigil-me if $sigil-me;
            # Return Their
            return $sigil-they(self);
        }
    
        token sigil-eu { '€' }
    }
    
    my $grammar = $main-grammar.^mixin(Nogil::NogilGrammar);
    $*LANG.define_slang('MAIN', $grammar, $main-actions);
    

    Note1: I removed some say essential for the demo. Just add .Str to those exoteric objects (NQPMatches).

    Note2: If you want to create temporary variables (like $res), keep binding (:=).