regular expression

[Asper Faner]

I seem to always have hard time understaing how this regular expression
works, especially how on earth do people bring it up as part of
computer programming language. Natural language processing seems not
enough to explain by the way. Why no eliminate it ?

[Paddy]

Re: regular expression


Asper Faner wrote:

I seem to always have hard time understaing how this regular expression
works, especially how on earth do people bring it up as part of
computer programming language. Natural language processing seems not
enough to explain by the way. Why no eliminate it ?

If you try to eliminate what you don't understand you won't learn
anything!

I suggest that you put the learning of regexps aside for a while and
come back to it 'later'.

[Erwin Moller]

Re: regular expression

Asper Faner wrote:

I seem to always have hard time understaing how this regular expression
works, especially how on earth do people bring it up as part of
computer programming language. Natural language processing seems not
enough to explain by the way. Why no eliminate it ?

I am sure you'll get an answer in one of zillion groups you posted this
stupid question to...

Regards,
Erwin

[Kleine Aap]

Re: regular expression

Asper Faner wrote:

I seem to always have hard time understaing how this regular expression
works, especially how on earth do people bring it up as part of
computer programming language. Natural language processing seems not
enough to explain by the way. Why no eliminate it ?

I.M.H.O. anyone that is not capable to grasp the concept of regular
expressions should not attempt to write computer programs at all! My
suggestion to you would be to find a job that involves working with your
hands...

[Kimmo Laine]

Re: regular expression

"Kleine Aap" <een-niet-bestaande-kleineaap@xs4al l.nlwrote in message
news:4587dc54$0 $18460$e4fe514c @dreader31.news .xs4all.nl...

Asper Faner wrote:
>

>I seem to always have hard time understaing how this regular expression
>works, especially how on earth do people bring it up as part of
>computer programming language. Natural language processing seems not
>enough to explain by the way. Why no eliminate it ?

>
I.M.H.O. anyone that is not capable to grasp the concept of regular
expressions should not attempt to write computer programs at all! My
suggestion to you would be to find a job that involves working with your
hands...

I disagree. I did fine for a few years without having a clue of what the
heck regular exps are and why they are quite useful. At some point I noticed
that I keep running into similar problems that all seem to have a trivial
solution with regular expressions and a complex solution using sticks, glue
and some magic. Naturally the sticks and glue were my primary choice cos I
didn't know regexp's s well... Finally I gave up and started fiddling with
reg exps, just a little at first, then some more and some more. Now I can
say that I have some basic comprehension of regexps and I use them every now
and then when needed. When you keep hitting your head to a brick wall long
time enough, you'll eventually learn to go around it or become a graphic
designer.

The basic problem was that RegExp's were never mentioned when I was back in
school learning all this programming shit so I had no basic understanding of
it when I started writing php 9 to 5. But I eventually got it.

--
"Ohjelmoija on organismi joka muuttaa kofeiinia koodiksi" - lpk
http://outolempi.net/ahdistus/ - Satunnaisesti päivittyvä nettisarjis
spam@outolempi. net | rot13(xvzzb@bhg byrzcv.arg)

[Curtis]

Re: regular expression

"Kimmo Laine" <s...@outolempi .netwrote:

When you keep hitting your head to a brick wall long
time enough, you'll eventually learn to go around it or become a graphic
designer.

LOL

The basic problem was that RegExp's were never mentioned when I was back in
school learning all this programming shit so I had no basic understanding of
it when I started writing php 9 to 5. But I eventually got it.

I was in a similar situation. When I started programming, I was
bouncing back and forth between Perl and PHP, all the while trying to
grasp regex in between. It was very difficult for me to wrap my mind
around it at first, so I generally tried to stay away. But I was in a
sort of love-hate relationship, as I found the incessant challenge
somewhat alluring. Before I knew it, I realized I was able to
incorporate regex into a great deal of my programming, and it
ironically has become one of my strongest areas. Strange, I always
found that all the regex tutorials I read always started out very easy,
and out of nowhere became insanely hard to follow. Learning by doing
was definitely the way I learned how to use them practically.

To the OP, if you are struggling with regex, I would recommend making
use of the /x modifier so that you can separate your patterns with
whitespace.


Curtis

[Erwin Moller]

Re: regular expression

Curtis wrote:

"Kimmo Laine" <s...@outolempi .netwrote:

>When you keep hitting your head to a brick wall long
>time enough, you'll eventually learn to go around it or become a graphic
>designer.

>
LOL
>

>The basic problem was that RegExp's were never mentioned when I was back
>in school learning all this programming shit so I had no basic
>understandin g of it when I started writing php 9 to 5. But I eventually
>got it.

>
I was in a similar situation. When I started programming, I was
bouncing back and forth between Perl and PHP, all the while trying to
grasp regex in between. It was very difficult for me to wrap my mind
around it at first, so I generally tried to stay away. But I was in a
sort of love-hate relationship, as I found the incessant challenge
somewhat alluring. Before I knew it, I realized I was able to
incorporate regex into a great deal of my programming, and it
ironically has become one of my strongest areas. Strange, I always
found that all the regex tutorials I read always started out very easy,
and out of nowhere became insanely hard to follow. Learning by doing
was definitely the way I learned how to use them practically.
>
To the OP, if you are struggling with regex, I would recommend making
use of the /x modifier so that you can separate your patterns with
whitespace.

Same here. :-)
I would like to put some attention to a great resource: 'Mastering Regular
Expressions' by Friedl, published by O'Reilly (again).

That Friedl-guy is aware of the fact you need practicing, and encourages you
through the whole book with excercises to actually do it.
All excercises are doable once your read the chapter they belong to.

I love learn-by-doing approach for difficult stuff.
For anybody who is thinking about learning regex, this book is totally worth
your money.

Erwin

>
>
Curtis

[Roman]

Re: regular expression

Asper Faner wrote:

I seem to always have hard time understaing how this regular expression
works, especially how on earth do people bring it up as part of
computer programming language. Natural language processing seems not
enough to explain by the way. Why no eliminate it ?
>

It has very much to do with computer programming. There is program flow,
conditions, loops, variables.

Roman

[aejw.com]

Re: regular expression

Also regular expressions are (pretty much) universal accross a ton of
languages... even search engines now provide some support for regular
expressions... I know its a bit of a headache, but keep trying to learn it
mate. Once you have it wrapped you will never look back.

Adam - http://www.aejw.com/?page=contact

"Roman" <me47@dipmicro. comwrote in message
news:22Gih.1809 3$Ca.6266@read2 .cgocable.net.. .

Asper Faner wrote:

>I seem to always have hard time understaing how this regular expression
>works, especially how on earth do people bring it up as part of
>computer programming language. Natural language processing seems not
>enough to explain by the way. Why no eliminate it ?
>>

>
It has very much to do with computer programming. There is program flow,
conditions, loops, variables.
>
Roman

[Joe Kesselman]

Re: regular expression

Reminder: anything crossposted across this many newsgroups, especially
asking an inherently bogus question, is probably just trolling.

If it's equally on topic everywhere, that means it's on topic nowhere.

--
() ASCII Ribbon Campaign | Joe Kesselman
/\ Stamp out HTML e-mail! | System architexture and kinetic poetry

[Dustan]

Re: regular expression


Kleine Aap wrote:

Asper Faner wrote:
>

I seem to always have hard time understaing how this regular expression
works, especially how on earth do people bring it up as part of
computer programming language. Natural language processing seems not
enough to explain by the way. Why no eliminate it ?

>
I.M.H.O. anyone that is not capable to grasp the concept of regular
expressions should not attempt to write computer programs at all! My
suggestion to you would be to find a job that involves working with your
hands...

Your humble opinion doesn't get much ruder...

Perhaps you meant "anyone that is not capable to grasp the concept of
regular expressions after some experience with programming should not
attempt to write computer programs at all!" Then at least newbies would
have a leg to stand on.

Otherwise, you're practically cutting off all entrances into the world
of programming! The concept of regular expressions isn't exactly the
simplest one out there. Just because you understood it immediately
(which I'm guessing you did, considering your harsh response), doesn't
mean others find the concept that simple.

[Stef Mientki]

Re: regular expression

Dustan wrote:

Kleine Aap wrote:

>Asper Faner wrote:
>>

>>I seem to always have hard time understaing how this regular expression
>>works, especially how on earth do people bring it up as part of
>>computer programming language. Natural language processing seems not
>>enough to explain by the way. Why no eliminate it ?

>I.M.H.O. anyone that is not capable to grasp the concept of regular
>expressions should not attempt to write computer programs at all! My
>suggestion to you would be to find a job that involves working with your
>hands...

>
Your humble opinion doesn't get much ruder...
>
Perhaps you meant "anyone that is not capable to grasp the concept of
regular expressions after some experience with programming should not
attempt to write computer programs at all!" Then at least newbies would
have a leg to stand on.
>
Otherwise, you're practically cutting off all entrances into the world
of programming! The concept of regular expressions isn't exactly the
simplest one out there. Just because you understood it immediately
(which I'm guessing you did, considering your harsh response), doesn't
mean others find the concept that simple.
>

I agree, and in addition:

(large) regular expressions are easy to write,
but can be almost impossible to read back !

I once had a program to generate and evaluate regular expressions,
but can't find it anymore :-(

If someone has links to regex generators/evaluators,
I'ld be much obliged.

cheers.
Stef Mientki

[Rad [Visual C# MVP]]

Re: regular expression

On Sun, 24 Dec 2006 16:36:31 +0100, Stef Mientki wrote:

Dustan wrote:

>Kleine Aap wrote:

>>Asper Faner wrote:
>>>
>>>I seem to always have hard time understaing how this regular expression
>>>works, especially how on earth do people bring it up as part of
>>>computer programming language. Natural language processing seems not
>>>enough to explain by the way. Why no eliminate it ?
>>I.M.H.O. anyone that is not capable to grasp the concept of regular
>>expressions should not attempt to write computer programs at all! My
>>suggestion to you would be to find a job that involves working with your
>>hands...

>>
>Your humble opinion doesn't get much ruder...
>>
>Perhaps you meant "anyone that is not capable to grasp the concept of
>regular expressions after some experience with programming should not
>attempt to write computer programs at all!" Then at least newbies would
>have a leg to stand on.
>>
>Otherwise, you're practically cutting off all entrances into the world
>of programming! The concept of regular expressions isn't exactly the
>simplest one out there. Just because you understood it immediately
>(which I'm guessing you did, considering your harsh response), doesn't
>mean others find the concept that simple.
>>

I agree, and in addition:
>
(large) regular expressions are easy to write,
but can be almost impossible to read back !
>
I once had a program to generate and evaluate regular expressions,
but can't find it anymore :-(
>
If someone has links to regex generators/evaluators,
I'ld be much obliged.
>
cheers.
Stef Mientki

A good tool to write, test and analyse regexes is the Regulator, available
here http://sourceforge.net/projects/regulator/

A good reference site is http://www.regular-expressions.info/, with
tutorials, examples and tools
--
Bits.Bytes

http://bytes.thinkersroom.com

[deviantbunnylord@gmail.com]

Re: regular expression


Rad [Visual C# MVP] wrote:

On Sun, 24 Dec 2006 16:36:31 +0100, Stef Mientki wrote:
>

Dustan wrote:

Kleine Aap wrote:
>Asper Faner wrote:
>>
>>I seem to always have hard time understaing how this regular expression
>>works, especially how on earth do people bring it up as part of
>>computer programming language. Natural language processing seems not
>>enough to explain by the way. Why no eliminate it ?

Hi folks, fairly new to the list(Python is my first programming
language, so I'm fairly new to the world of programming too)but this is
a question I've been wondering about since I started learning about the
re module. Are regular expressions what makes mark up languages
interpretable by webbrowsers?

[Dustan]

Re: regular expression


deviantbunnylor d@gmail.com wrote:

Rad [Visual C# MVP] wrote:

On Sun, 24 Dec 2006 16:36:31 +0100, Stef Mientki wrote:

Dustan wrote:
>Kleine Aap wrote:
>>Asper Faner wrote:
>>>
>>>I seem to always have hard time understaing how this regular expression
>>>works, especially how on earth do people bring it up as part of
>>>computer programming language. Natural language processing seems not
>>>enough to explain by the way. Why no eliminate it ?

>
Hi folks, fairly new to the list(Python is my first programming
language, so I'm fairly new to the world of programming too)but this is
a question I've been wondering about since I started learning about the
re module. Are regular expressions what makes mark up languages
interpretable by webbrowsers?

I don't actually know the answer, but my educated guess:

Regular expressions are just the simplest way to parse any text, but
there are other ways. Webbrowsers most likely depend on regular
expressions just because it's a relatively quick and easy way to
interpret the language.