tldr/pages/common/flex.md

flex

Lexical analyzer generator. A rewrite of lex with extensions to the POSIX specification. Given the specification for a lexical analyzer, generates C code implementing it. Note: long options don't work on OpenBSD. More information: https://manned.org/flex.

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

lex {{analyzer.l}}

• Write analyzer to stdout:

lex -{{-stdout|t}} {{analyzer.l}}

• Specify the output file:

lex {{analyzer.l}} -o {{analyzer.c}}

• Generate a [B]atch scanner instead of an interactive scanner:

lex -B {{analyzer.l}}

• Compile a C file generated by Lex:

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