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@@ -2,79 +2,34 @@
Syntax Tools overview page
-
@author Richard Carlsson <[email protected]>
-@copyright 1997-2004 Richard Carlsson
+@copyright 1997-2014 Richard Carlsson
@version {@version}
-@title Erlang Syntax Tools
+@title Erlang Syntax and Metaprogramming tools
-@doc This package contains modules for handling abstract Erlang syntax
-trees, in a way that is compatible with the "parse trees" of the
-standard library module `erl_parse', together with utilities for reading
-source files in unusual ways and pretty-printing syntax trees. Also
-included is an amazing module merger and renamer called Igor, as well as
-an automatic code-cleaner.
+@doc This package contains modules for handling abstract syntax trees (ASTs)
+in Erlang, in a way that is compatible with the "abstract format" parse
+trees of the stdlib module `erl_parse', together with utilities for reading
+source files, {@link erl_prettypr. pretty-printing syntax trees}, {@link
+igor. merging and renaming modules}, {@link erl_tidy. cleaning up obsolete
+constructs}, and doing {@link merl. metaprogramming} in Erlang.
-<p>The abstract layer (defined in {@link erl_syntax}) is nicely
+The abstract layer (defined in {@link erl_syntax}) is nicely
structured and the node types are context-independent. The layer makes
it possible to transparently attach source-code comments and user
annotations to nodes of the tree. Using the abstract layer makes
applications less sensitive to changes in the {@link //stdlib/erl_parse}
-data structures, only requiring the {@link erl_syntax} module to be
-up-to-date.</p>
+data structures, only requiring the `erl_syntax' module to be up-to-date.
-<p>The pretty printer {@link erl_prettypr} is implemented on top of the
+The pretty printer {@link erl_prettypr} is implemented on top of the
library module {@link prettypr}: this is a powerful and flexible generic
-pretty printing library, which is also distributed separately.</p>
-
-<p>For a short demonstration of parsing and pretty-printing, simply
-compile the included module <a
-href="../examples/demo.erl"><code>demo.erl</code></a>, and execute
-<code>demo:run()</code> from the Erlang shell. It will compile the
-remaining modules and give you further instructions.</p>
-
-<p>Also try the {@link erl_tidy} module, as follows:
-<pre>
- erl_tidy:dir("any-erlang-source-dir", [test, old_guard_tests]).</pre>
-("<code>test</code>" assures that no files are modified).</p>
-
-<p>News in 1.4:
-<ul>
- <li>Added support for {@link erl_syntax:cond_expr/1. cond-expressions},
- {@link erl_syntax:try_expr/4. try-expressions} and
- {@link erl_syntax:class_qualifier/2. class-qualifier patterns}.</li>
- <li>Added support for parameterized modules.</li>
- <li>{@link igor. Igor} is officially included.</li>
- <li>Quick-parse functionality added to {@link epp_dodger}.</li>
-</ul>
-</p>
-
-<p>News in 1.3:
-<ul>
- <li>Added support for qualified names (as used by "packages").</li>
- <li>Various internal changes.</li>
-</ul>
-</p>
+pretty printing library, which is also distributed separately.
-<p>News in 1.2:
-<ul>
- <li>HTML Documentation (generated with EDoc).</li>
- <li>A few bug fixes and some minor interface changes (sorry for any
- inconvenience).</li>
-</ul>
-</p>
+For a short demonstration of parsing and pretty-printing, simply
+compile the included module <a href="../examples/demo.erl">`demo.erl'</a>,
+and execute `demo:run()' from the Erlang shell. It will compile the
+remaining modules and give you further instructions.
-<p>News in 1.1:
-<ul>
- <li>Module {@link erl_tidy}: check or tidy either a single module, or a
- whole directory tree recursively. Rewrites and reformats the code
- without losing comments or expanding macros. Safe mode allows
- generating reports without modifying files.</li>
- <li>Module {@link erl_syntax_lib}: contains support functions for easier
- analysis of the source code structure.</li>
- <li>Module {@link epp_dodger}: Bypasses the Erlang preprocessor - avoids
- macro expansion, file inclusion, conditional compilation, etc.
- Allows you to find/modify particular definitions/applications of
- macros, and other things previously not possible.</li>
-</ul>
-</p>
+Also try the {@link erl_tidy} module, as follows:
+```erl_tidy:dir("any-erlang-source-dir", [test, old_guard_tests]).'''
+(the `test' option assures that no files are modified).