[Foundation-l] EBNF of Wikitext

[David Strauss]

Despite how ugly (E)BNF may be, it's the standard format for defining
the syntax of most prominent computer languages. It had the additional
benefit of automatic conversion (via Bison or a similar program) into a
native parser.

Gerard Meijssen wrote:
> Hoi,
> What the f* is an EBNF .. It does not help that you URL is wrong. Being 
> clever (ahum) I found Extended Backus–Naur form.. A question, do you 
> really think that an average Wiki editor will NOT get hopelessly 
> confused and get it hopelessly wrong as well?
> 
> Personally I find it horribly ugly as well
> 
> Thanks,
> GerardM
> 
> http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikitext_Metasyntax
> 
> 
> Virgil Ierubino schreef:
>> I'm working on writing out an EBNF description of Wikitext at
>> http://meta.wikimedia.org/wikiWikitext_Metasyntax , which I hear is much
>> needed, but have encountered a snag. I don't think EBNF has the power to
>> describe Wikitext. If anyone here can work out how EBNF can describe
>> Wikitext's system for bullet points, I'd like to see it. The problem is that
>> bullet points can build on each other, except each new level has to retain
>> the markup from the old level, plus a new symbol. e.g. **#* then **#* * then
>> **#** * then **#*** # etc.
>>
>> On the topic of "things that need to be done" if writing an EBNF of Wikitext
>> isn't going to be beneficial for MediaWiki's longstanding success, I'll not
>> bother, but is there anything that needs to be done like this to create a
>> standard?
>>
>> Please forward to any other mailing lists in which this might be
>> appropriate. Thanks!
> 
> 
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> foundation-l at lists.wikimedia.org
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