Comparison of parser generators

This is a list of notable lexer generators and parser generators for various language classes.

Regular languages

Name Lexer algorithm Output languages Grammar, code Development platform License
Alex DFA Haskell mixed all BSD
AustenX DFA Java separate all BSD
C# Flex DFA C# mixed .NET CLR GNU GPL
C# Lex DFA C# mixed .NET CLR ?
CookCC DFA Java mixed Java Virtual Machine BSD
DFAlex DFA no code generation required Java Java Apache License 2.0
Dolphin DFA C++ separate all Proprietary
flex DFA table driven C, C++ mixed all BSD
gelex DFA Eiffel mixed Eiffel MIT
golex DFA Go mixed Go BSD-style
gplex DFA C# mixed .NET CLR BSD-like
JFlex DFA Java mixed Java Virtual Machine GNU GPL
JLex DFA Java mixed Java Virtual Machine BSD-like
lex DFA C mixed POSIX Proprietary, CDDL
lexertl DFA C++ all GNU LGPL
Quex DFA direct code C, C++ mixed all GNU LGPL
Ragel DFA C, C++, D, Go, Java, Objective-C, Ruby mixed all GNU GPL
re2c DFA direct code C mixed all Public domain

Deterministic context-free languages

Name Parsing algorithm Input grammar notation Output languages Grammar, code Lexer Development platform IDE License
ANTLR4 ALL(*)[1] EBNF C#, Java, Python, JavaScript mixed generated Java Virtual Machine Yes BSD
ANTLR3 LL(*) EBNF ActionScript, Ada95, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, Objective-C, Perl, Python, Ruby mixed generated Java Virtual Machine Yes BSD
APG Recursive descent, Backtracking ABNF C, C++, JavaScript, Java separate none all No GNU GPL
AXE Recursive descent AXE/C++ C++11 mixed none any platform with standard C++11 compiler No Boost
Beaver LALR(1) EBNF Java mixed external Java Virtual Machine No BSD
Bison LALR(1), LR(1), IELR(1), GLR ? C, C++ mixed external all No GNU GPL
Bison++[note 1] LALR(1) ? C++ mixed external POSIX No GNU GPL
Bisonc++ LALR(1) ? C++ mixed external POSIX No GNU GPL
BtYacc Backtracking Bottom-up ? C++ mixed external all No Public domain
byacc LALR(1) YACC C mixed external all No Public domain
BYACC/J LALR(1) ? C, Java mixed external all No Public domain
CL-Yacc LALR(1) Lisp Common Lisp mixed external all No MIT
Coco/R LL(1) EBNF C, C++, C#, F#, Java, Ada, Pascal, Modula-2, Oberon, Ruby, Unicon, Visual Basic .NET mixed generated Java Virtual Machine, .NET Framework No GNU GPL
CookCC LALR(1) Java annotations Java mixed generated Java Virtual Machine No BSD
CppCC LL(k) ? C++ mixed generated POSIX No GNU GPL
CSP LR(1) ? C++ separate generated POSIX No Apache License 2.0
CUP LALR(1) ? Java mixed external Java Virtual Machine No GNU GPL
Dragon LR(1), LALR(1) ? C++, Java separate generated all No GNU GPL
eli LALR(1) ? C mixed generated POSIX No GNU GPL, GNU LGPL
Essence LR(???) ? Scheme 48 mixed external all No BSD
Eto.Parse LL(k) BNF, EBNF or C# N/A (state machine is runtime generated) separate internal .NET Framework No MIT
eyapp LALR(1) ? Perl mixed external or generated all No Perl
Frown LALR(k) ? Haskell 98 mixed external all No GNU GPL
geyacc LALR(1) ? Eiffel mixed external all No MIT
GOLD LALR(1) BNF x86 assembly language, ANSI C, C#, D, Java, Pascal, Object Pascal, Python, Visual Basic 6, Visual Basic .NET, Visual C++ separate generated Microsoft Windows Yes Modified Zlib
GPPG LALR(1) YACC C# separate external Microsoft Windows Yes BSD
Grammatica LL(k) BNF dialect C#, Java separate generated Java Virtual Machine No GNU LGPL
HiLexed LL(*) EBNF or Java Java separate internal Java Virtual Machine No GNU LGPL
Hime Parser Generator LR(1), LALR(1), LR(0) BNF dialect C#, Java separate generated .NET Framework, Java Virtual Machine No GNU LGPL
Hyacc LR(1), LALR(1), LR(0) YACC C mixed external all No GNU GPL
Irony LALR(1) C# N/A (state machine is runtime generated) separate internal .NET Framework Yes MIT
iyacc LALR(1) YACC Icon mixed external all No GNU GPL
jacc LALR(1) ? Java mixed external Java Virtual Machine No BSD
JavaCC LL(k) EBNF Java, C++, JavaScript (via GWT compiler)[2] mixed generated Java Virtual Machine Yes BSD
jay LALR(1) YACC C#, Java mixed none Java Virtual Machine No BSD
JFLAP LL(1), LALR(1) ? Java ? ? Java Virtual Machine Yes ?
JetPAG LL(k) ? C++ mixed generated all No GNU GPL
JS/CC LALR(1) EBNF JavaScript, JScript, ECMAScript mixed internal all Yes Artistic
KDevelop-PG-Qt LL(1), Backtracking, Shunting yard ? C++ mixed generated or external all, KDE No GNU LGPL
Kelbt Backtracking LALR(1) ? C++ mixed generated POSIX No GNU GPL
kmyacc LALR(1) ? C, Java, Perl, JavaScript mixed external all No GNU GPL
Lapg LALR(1) ? C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript mixed generated Java Virtual Machine No GNU GPL
Lemon LALR(1) ? C mixed external all No Public domain
LEPL Recursive descent Python Python (no generation, library) separate none all No MPL/GNU LGPL
Lime LALR(1) ? PHP mixed external all No GNU GPL
LISA LR(?), LL(?), LALR(?), SLR(?) ? Java mixed generated Java Virtual Machine Yes Public domain
LLgen LL(1) ? C mixed external POSIX No BSD
LLnextgen LL(1) ? C mixed external all No GNU GPL
LLLPG LL(k) + syntactic and semantic predicates ANTLR-like C# mixed generated (?) .NET Framework, Mono Visual Studio GNU LGPL
LPG Backtracking LALR(k) ? Java mixed generated Java Virtual Machine No EPL
Menhir LR(1) ? OCaml mixed generated all No QPL
ML-Yacc LALR(1) ? ML mixed external all No ?
Monkey LR(1) ? Java separate generated Java Virtual Machine No GNU GPL
Msta LALR(k), LR(k) YACC, EBNF C, C++ mixed external or generated POSIX, Cygwin No GNU GPL
MTP (More Than Parsing) LL(1) ? Java separate generated Java Virtual Machine No GNU GPL
MyParser LL(*) Markdown C++11 separate internal any platform with standard C++11 compiler No MIT License
NLT GLR C#/BNF-like C# mixed mixed .NET Framework No MIT
ocamlyacc LALR(1) ? OCaml mixed external all No QPL
olex LL(1) ? C++ mixed generated all No GNU GPL
Parsec LL, Backtracking ? Haskell mixed none all No BSD
Parse::Yapp LALR(1) ? Perl mixed external all No GNU GPL
Parser Objects LL(k) ? Java mixed ? Java Virtual Machine No zlib
PCCTS LL ? C, C++ ? ? all No ?
PLY LALR(1) BNF Python mixed generated all No MIT License
PlyPlus LALR(1) EBNF Python separate generated all No MIT License
PRECC LL(k) ? C separate generated DOS, POSIX No GNU GPL
QLALR LALR(1) ? C++ mixed external all No GNU GPL
RPATK Recursive descent, Backtracking BNF C (no generation, library) separate none all No GNU GPL
SableCC LALR(1) ? C, C++, C#, Java, OCaml, Python separate generated all No GNU LGPL
SLK LL(k) LR(k) LALR(k) EBNF C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript separate external all No Proprietary
SP (Simple Parser) Recursive descent Python Python separate generated all No GNU LGPL
Spirit Recursive descent ? C++ mixed internal all No Boost
Sprache LL, Backtracking C# interpreted mixed internal .NET Framework No MIT
Styx LALR(1) ? C, C++ separate generated all No GNU LGPL
Sweet Parser LALR(1) ? C++ separate generated Microsoft Windows No zlib
Tap LL(1) ? C++ mixed generated all No GNU GPL
TextTransformer LL(k) ? C++ mixed generated Microsoft Windows Yes Proprietary
TinyPG LL(1) ? C#, Visual Basic ? ? Microsoft Windows Yes CPOL 1.0
Toy Parser Generator Recursive descent ? Python mixed generated all No GNU LGPL
TP Yacc LALR(1) ? Turbo Pascal mixed external all Yes GNU GPL
UniCC LALR(1) EBNF C, target-language independent mixed generated POSIX No Artistic 2.0
Whale LR(?), some conjunctive stuff, see Whale Calf ? C++ mixed external all No Proprietary
wisent LALR(1) ? C++, Java mixed external all No GNU GPL
Yacc AT&T/Sun LALR(1) YACC C mixed external POSIX No CPL & CDDL
Yacc++ LR(1), LALR(1) YACC C++, C# mixed generated or external all No Proprietary
Yapps LL(1) ? Python mixed generated all No MIT
yecc LALR(1) ? Erlang separate generated all No Erlang
Visual BNF LR(1), LALR(1) ? C# separate generated .NET Framework Yes Proprietary
YooParse LR(1), LALR(1) ? C++ mixed external all No MIT
Parse LR(1) BNF in C++ types ? ? none C++11 compliant compiler No MIT
Product Parsing algorithm Input grammar notation Output languages Grammar, code Lexer Development platform IDE License

Parsing expression grammars, deterministic boolean grammars

Name Parsing algorithm Output languages Grammar, code Development platform License
Arpeggio PEG parser interpreter, Packrat Python (no generation, interpreted) mixed all MIT
AustenX Packrat (modified) Java separate all BSD
Aurochs Packrat C, OCaml, Java mixed all GNU GPL
CL-peg Packrat Common Lisp mixed all MIT
Drat! Packrat D mixed all GNU GPL
Frisby Packrat Haskell mixed all BSD
grammar::peg Packrat Tcl mixed all BSD
Grako Packrat + Cut + Left Recursion Python / C++ (beta) separate all BSD
IronMeta Packrat C# mixed Microsoft Windows BSD
Katahdin Packrat (modified), mutating interpreter C# mixed all Public domain
Laja 2-phase scannerless top-down backtracking + runtime support Java separate all GNU GPL
lars::parser Packrat (modified to support left-recursion and resolve grammar ambiguity) C++ identical all GNU GPL, commercial license available on request
LPeg Parsing Machine Lua mixed all MIT
Mouse Recursive descent Java separate Java Virtual Machine Apache License 2.0
Narwhal Packrat C mixed POSIX, Microsoft Windows BSD
Nemerle.Peg Recursive descent + Pratt Nemerle separate all BSD
neotoma Packrat Erlang separate all MIT
NPEG Recursive descent C# mixed all MIT
OMeta Packrat (modified, partial memoization) JavaScript, Squeak, Python mixed all MIT
PackCC Packrat (modified) C mixed all MIT
Packrat Packrat Scheme mixed all MIT
Pappy Packrat Haskell mixed all Proprietary
parboiled Recursive descent Java, Scala mixed Java Virtual Machine Apache License 2.0
Lambda PEG Recursive descent Java mixed Java Virtual Machine Apache License 2.0
parsepp Recursive descent C++ mixed all Public domain
Parsnip Packrat C++ mixed Microsoft Windows GNU GPL
peg Recursive descent C mixed all MIT
PEG.js Packrat (partial memoization) JavaScript mixed all MIT
peg-parser PEG parser interpreter Dylan separate all
Pegasus Recursive descent / Packrat (selectively) C# mixed Microsoft Windows MIT
pegc Recursive descent C mixed all Public domain
PetitParser Packrat Smalltalk, Java, Dart mixed all MIT
PEGTL Recursive descent C++11 mixed all MIT
PGE Hybrid recursive descent / operator precedence[3] Parrot bytecode mixed Parrot virtual machine Artistic 2.0
PyPy rlib Packrat Python mixed all MIT
pyPEG PEG parser interpreter, Packrat Python mixed all GNU GPL
Rats! Packrat Java mixed Java Virtual Machine GNU LGPL
Spirit2 Recursive descent C++ mixed all Boost
textX PEG parser interpreter, Packrat Python (no generation, interpreted) separate all MIT
Treetop Recursive descent Ruby mixed all MIT
Yard Recursive descent C++ mixed all MIT or Public domain
Waxeye Packrat C, Java, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, Scheme separate all MIT
PHP PEG ? (PEG Parser?) PHP mixed all BSD

General context-free, conjunctive or boolean languages

Name Parsing algorithm Input grammar notation Output languages Grammar, code Lexer Development platform IDE License
ACCENT Earley YACC variant C mixed external all No GNU GPL
APaGeD GLR, LALR(1), LL(k) ? D mixed generated all No Artistic
Bison LALR(1), LR(1), IELR(1), GLR YACC C, C++, Java, XML mixed (except XML) external all No GNU GPL
DMS Software Reengineering Toolkit GLR ? Parlanse mixed generated Microsoft Windows No Proprietary
DParser Scannerless GLR ? C mixed scannerless POSIX No BSD
Dypgen runtime-extensible GLR ? OCaml mixed generated all No CeCILL-B
E3 Earley ? OCaml mixed external, or scannerless all No ?
Elkhound GLR ? C++, OCaml mixed external all No BSD
eu.h8me.Parsing GLR ? N/A (state machine is runtime generated) separate external .NET Framework No BSD
GDK LALR(1), GLR ? C, Lex, Haskell, HTML, Java, Object Pascal, Yacc mixed generated POSIX No MIT
Happy LALR, GLR ? Haskell mixed external all No BSD
Hime Parser Generator GLR ? C#, Java separate generated .NET Framework, Java Virtual Machine No GNU LGPL
IronText Library LALR(1), GLR C# C# mixed generated or external .NET Framework No Apache License 2.0
Jison LALR(1), LR(0), SLR(1) YACC JavaScript, C#, PHP mixed generated all No MIT
Laja Scannerless, two phase Laja Java separate scannerless all No GNU GPL
ModelCC Earley Annotated class model Java generated generated all No BSD
P1 Combinators BNF-like OCaml mixed external, or scannerless all No ?
P3 Earley/combinators BNF-like OCaml mixed external, or scannerless all No ?
P4 Earley/combinators, infinitary CFGs BNF-like OCaml mixed external, or scannerless all No ?
Scannerless Boolean Parser Scannerless GLR (Boolean grammars) ? Haskell, Java separate scannerless Java Virtual Machine No BSD
SDF/SGLR Scannerless GLR SDF C, Java separate scannerless all Yes BSD
SmaCC GLR(1), LALR(1), LR(1) ? Smalltalk mixed internal all Yes MIT
SPARK Earley ? Python mixed external all No MIT
Tom GLR ? C generated none all No "No licensing or copyright restrictions"
UltraGram LALR, LR, GLR ? C++, C#, Java, Visual Basic .NET separate generated Microsoft Windows Yes Proprietary
Wormhole Pruning, LR, GLR, Scannerless GLR ? C, Python mixed scannerless Microsoft Windows No MIT
Whale Calf General tabular, SLL(k), Linear normal form (Conjunctive grammars), LR, Binary normal form (Boolean grammars) ? C++ separate external all No Proprietary

Context-sensitive

Name Parsing algortihm Input grammar notation Boolean grammar capabilities Development platform License
LuZ delta chain modular Conjunctive, not complimentary all proprietary
bnf2xml recursive descent (is a text filter output is xml) simple bnf grammar (input matching), output is xml ? beta, and not a full fledged EBNF parser GNU GPLv2

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Adaptive LL(*) Parsing: The Power of Dynamic Analysis" (PDF). Terence Parr. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  2. ↑ "Building parsers for the web with JavaCC & GWT (Part one)". Chris Ainsley. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
  3. ↑ "Parrot: Grammar Engine". The Parrot Foundation. 2011. "PGE rules provide the full power of recursive descent parsing and operator precedence parsing."

Notes

  1. ↑ Bison 1.19 fork

External links

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