bison ☆

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Description:
Parser generator

Type: Formula | Latest Version: 3.8.2@0 | Tracked Since: Dec 17, 2025

Links: Homepage | formulae.brew.sh

Category: Developer tools

Tags: parser-generator compiler development tool bison yacc

Install: brew install bison

About:
Bison is a general-purpose parser generator that converts a grammar description into a C, C++, or Java program. It serves as a drop-in replacement for Yacc, enabling developers to build efficient syntax analyzers for custom programming languages and data formats. Its LALR(1) parsing algorithm ensures robust and predictable performance for complex grammars.

Key Features:

Generates LALR(1) parsers in C, C++, D, Java, and PHP
Fully compatible with Yacc, serving as a modern replacement
Provides detailed error reporting and debugging capabilities
Supports GLR parsing for ambiguous grammars

Use Cases:

Developing compilers and interpreters for custom programming languages
Parsing complex configuration files or structured data formats
Building syntax highlighting and analysis tools for IDEs

Alternatives:

ANTLR – ANTLR uses LL(*) parsing and supports more target languages, but Bison is often faster for C-based projects and has a longer history in the Unix ecosystem.

License: GPL-3.0-or-later

Bottles available for: arm64_tahoe, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_ventura, arm64_monterey, arm64_big_sur, sonoma, ventura, monterey, big_sur, catalina, arm64_linux, x86_64_linux

Version History

Detected	Version	Rev	Change	Commit
Sep 10, 2025 9:23am		0	VERSION_BUMP	6d9ac0a8
Sep 13, 2023 9:40am		0	VERSION_BUMP	3451ad5c