The ambiguity tag has no wiki summary.
11
votes
2answers
739 views
Dijkstra's example of an ambiguous program
Salutations. Dijkstra wrote that even a few lines of seemingly simple code could be hopelessly ambiguous. In at least one work, which I can't find now to save my life, he gave a little example program ...
10
votes
9answers
807 views
Should programming languages be strict or loose?
In Python and JavaScript, semi-colons are optional.
In PHP, quotes around array-keys are optional ($_GET[key] vs $_GET['key']), although if you omit them it will first look for a constant by that ...
6
votes
10answers
3k views
Is there a universal date format that anyone in the world can understand?
In Canada, everyone is familiar with the date format YYYY-MM-DD. In Europe or South Africa, they prefer DD-MM-YYYY. There are users from South Africa who get confused with the YYYY-MM-DD date ...
3
votes
1answer
207 views
Showing a grammar is ambiguous
I have the following question taken from a compilers course exam:
Show that the following grammar is ambiguous.
S = XcY
X = a
Y = b | Z
Z = bW
W = d | ϵ
I drew the following tree:
Am I correct ...
3
votes
0answers
93 views
What does scannerless parsing have to do with the “Dangling Else Problem”?
I do not understand this sentence from the Wikipedia article on the Dangling Else problem:
[The Dangling Else problem] is a problem that often comes up in compiler construction, especially ...
2
votes
2answers
242 views
Convert grammar into an LL(1) grammar which recognises the same language
I have the following sample question for a compilers exam and wanted to check my solution.
Convert the following grammar into an LL(1) grammar which recognises the same
language:
E -> E + T
E ...
2
votes
1answer
100 views
Verification as QA - makes sense?
Preparing my thesis, I found another interesting discrepancy. While some books say verification it terms of static analysis of work products is quality control (looking for defects), other say it is ...
1
vote
3answers
207 views
System testing - making sure the system conforms to specification. Validation? [closed]
After weeks of research I have nearly completed my thesis, yet I am unable to clear up my confusion contained in all previous threads here (and in many books):
During system testing, we check the ...
0
votes
0answers
230 views
Steps in converting a grammar to LL(1) Grammar
I have the following question:
Convert the following grammar into an LL(1) grammar which recognises the same
language (you may assume that the grammar is unambiguous).
A -> int
A -> int + A
A ...
