tldr/pages/linux/flex.md

flex

Lexical analyzer generator. Given the specification for a lexical analyzer, generates C code implementing it. More information: https://manned.org/lex.1.

• Generate an analyzer from a Lex file, storing it to the file lex.yy.c:

flex {{analyzer.l}}

• Write analyzer to stdout:

flex {{[-t|--stdout]}} {{analyzer.l}}

• Specify the output file:

flex {{analyzer.l}} {{[-o|--outfile]}} {{analyzer.c}}

• Generate a batch scanner instead of an interactive scanner:

flex {{[-B|--batch]}} {{analyzer.l}}

• Compile a C file generated by Lex:

cc {{path/to/lex.yy.c}} -o {{executable}}