A generic parser for strings and trees

In this paper, we propose a two fold generic parser. First, it simulates the behavior of multiple parsing automata. Second, it parses strings drawn from either a context free grammar, a regular tree grammar, or from both. The proposed parser is based on an approach that defines an extended version of an automaton, called positionparsing automaton (PPA) using concepts from LR and regular tree automata, combined with a newly introduced concept, called state instantiation and transition cloning. It is constructed as a direct mapping from a grammar, represented in an expanded list format. However, PPA is a non-deterministic automaton with a generic bottom-up parsing behavior. Hence, it is efficiently transformed into a reduced one (RBA). The proposed parser is then constructed to simulate the run of the RBA automaton on input strings derived from a respective grammar. Without loss of generality, the proposed parser is used within the framework of pattern matching and code generation. Comparisons with similar and well-known approaches, such as LR and RI, have shown that our parsing algorithm is conceptually simpler and requires less space and states.