Python regular expressions just ain't PCRE

[Klaas]

On May 5, 6:57 pm, Wiseman <Wiseman1... at gmail.com> wrote:

> > There's also the YAGNI factor; most folk would restrict using regular
> > expressions to simple grep-like functionality and data validation --
> > e.g. re.match("[A-Z][A-Z]?[0-9]{6}[0-9A]$", idno). The few who want to
> > recognise yet another little language tend to reach for parsers, using
> > regular expressions only in the lexing phase.
>
> Well, I find these features very useful. I've used a complex, LALR
> parser to parse complex grammars, but I've solved many problems with
> just the PCRE lib. Either way seeing nobody's interested on these
> features, I'll see if I can expose PCRE to Python myself; it sounds
> like the fairest solution because it doesn't even deal with the re
> module - you can do whatever you want with it (though I'd rather have
> it stay as it is or enhance it), and I'll still have PCRE. That's if I
> find the time to do it though, even having no life.

A polished wrapper for PCRE would be a great contribution to the
python community.  If it becomes popular, then the argument for
replacing the existing re engine becomes much stronger.

-Mike