JFLEX(1)

📦
version 1.7.0 · 2 versions
, in debian bookworm, debian trixie, ubuntu jammy, ubuntu noble, ubuntu questing, ubuntu resolute, ubuntu stonking

💖 JFLEX(1) 💖

okay bestie, gather round — this is the jflex manual page, straight out of the General Commands Manual section of your fave Unix system. Sit down, grab a strawberry 🍓, and let's get you fluent in scanner-generator speak.

✨ NAME ✨

jflex — a lexical analyzer generator (also known as scanner generator) for Java. 💅

✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

jflex <options> <input-files>

That's it, that's the whole vibe. Options go first, then the files you're feeding it. 🫶

🌸 DESCRIPTION 🌸

So here's the tea ☕: JFlex is a lexical analyzer generator (aka a scanner generator, same thing, different name, iykyk) for Java(tm), and it's itself written in Java(tm). Iconic behaviour honestly.

It's also a rewrite of the very useful tool JLex — think glow-up, not glow-down. ✨

JFlex was designed to work together with the LALR parser generator CUP, and with BYacc/J, which is the Java modification of Berkeley Yacc. And it can also be used together with other parser generators like ANTLR, or just as a standalone tool all on its own. Main character energy either way. 👑

🎀 OPTIONS 🎀

Every single flag, no skips, no cap:

  • -d <directory> — write the generated file to <directory>. Yes, you pick where it lives. 🏠
  • --skel <file> — use an external skeleton <file>. Give it a different skeleton and it'll wear it. 💀✨
  • --switch, --table, --pack — set the default code generation method. Three ways to do the thing, pick your fighter. 🥊
  • --jlex — strict JLex compatibility. Old-school mode, for when you need it to behave exactly like the ancestor. 🧚
  • --nomin — skip the minimization step. Just... don't minimize. Lowkey chaotic but valid.
  • --nobak — don't create backup files. Living dangerously, no safety net, we respect it. 🙈
  • --dump — display transition tables. Show me the receipts. 📊
  • --dot — write graphviz .dot files for the generated automata (alpha). Note the (alpha) bestie — it's experimental, treat it gently. 🦋
  • --verbose, -v — display generation progress messages. This one is the default, so it's already on unless you say otherwise. 🗣️
  • --quiet, -q — display errors only. Minimalist era. 🤫
  • --time — display generation time statistics. For the girlies who love a benchmark. ⏱️
  • --version — print the version number of this copy of jflex. Which one are you running, hmm? 💅
  • --info — print system + JDK information. Perfect for debugging your whole setup. 🔍
  • --help, -h — print this message. Your little emergency escape hatch. 🆘

💜 AUTHOR 💜

This manual page was written by Wolfgang Baer <WBaer@gmx.de>, for the Debian project — but it may be used by others too, so don't be shy. 🫶

and that's a wrap, bestie 🎀 This page is dated October 2005 and it belongs to the JFLEX(1) entry in the General Commands Manual. Go generate some scanners, slay, and remember: every option above is load-bearing, so don't skip a single one. periodt. ✨🦋💖

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