[/
 / Distributed under the Boost Software License, Version 1.0. (See accompanying
 / file LICENSE_1_0.txt or copy at http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt)
 /]

[section Rationale]

[heading _ch_'s attribute type is polymorphic]

The majority use case for parsing with _Parser_ is Unicode-aware parsing.
Those users should be able simply to use _ch_ and have it "just work".  In the
case of Unicode, that "just working" implies that every element of the input
range should be a code point.

Some users will insist that their parsing needs are entirely ASCII.  Yet other
users cannot use Unicode, because they use some encoding that is not a subset
of the Unicode encoding, like EBCDIC.  For these users, they can just parse
input sequences of `char`, and that will "just work" for them.  For them, this
means that every element of the input range that is parsed should be a `char`.

This is exactly what _ch_ does, and why it does it.

[heading _n_ is weird]

Yes, and it's generally not a good programming practice to use a type which is
so loose (anything can be assigned to it, it's implicitly convertible to
anything, etc.).  However, it is better than the alternative.  Consider this
semantic action:

    [](auto & ctx) { _attr(ctx) = 42; }

If attached to an int-parser, this is fine.  If attached to an epsilon parser
(which has no attribute), this silently does nothing.  However, in debug mode
the assignment in this semantic action will hit a `BOOST_ASSERT(false)`, and
lead the user to a big inline comment about how they got there.  This is a far
more understandable failure mode for most programmers than the
arbitrarily-deep template instantiation stack _emdash_ and baffling type of
`ctx` _emdash_ that would result if the expression `_attr(ctx)` were
ill-formed.

The use of _n_ turns an entirely compile-time debugging operation into a
run-time debugging one.  Usually, this is the opposite of what we want as C++
users.  In light of just how inscrutable error messages are that come from
parser combinator libraries, using your favorite debugger to step through the
stack to diagnose the problem is a *much* faster way to fix problems.

[note The example below is taken from an older version of _Parser_, so some of
the symbol names may be unfamiliar.  However, it's a real example, and it
applies just as well to later versions of _Parser_.]

To demonstrate the difference, I added these three lines to the end of the
`object_init` lambda in the _ex_json_:

    auto x = _locals(ctx);
    if (x)
        std::cout << "Oops!  What x?";

The parser that `object_init` is attached to has no locals.  Here is an
example of how you can investigate this error at run time:

[teletype]``
$ gdb --args example/json ../meta/libraries.json 
GNU gdb (Ubuntu 9.1-0ubuntu1) 9.1
Copyright (C) 2020 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later <http://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>
This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.
There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.
Type "show copying" and "show warranty" for details.
This GDB was configured as "x86_64-linux-gnu".
Type "show configuration" for configuration details.
For bug reporting instructions, please see:
<http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/>.
Find the GDB manual and other documentation resources online at:
    <http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/documentation/>.

For help, type "help".
Type "apropos word" to search for commands related to "word"...
Reading symbols from example/json...
(gdb) r
Starting program: /home/tzlaine/parser/build/example/json ../meta/libraries.json
json: /home/tzlaine/parser/include/boost/parser/parser.hpp:344: void boost::parser::none::fail() const: Assertion `false' failed.

Program received signal SIGABRT, Aborted.
__GI_raise (sig=sig@entry=6) at ../sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/raise.c:50
50      ../sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/raise.c: No such file or directory.
(gdb) up
#1  0x00007ffff7bdf859 in __GI_abort () at abort.c:79
79      abort.c: No such file or directory.
(gdb) 
#2  0x00007ffff7bdf729 in __assert_fail_base (
    fmt=0x7ffff7d75588 "%s%s%s:%u: %s%sAssertion `%s' failed.\n%n", 
    assertion=0x5555555f7a2c "false", 
    file=0x5555555f7dd8 "/home/tzlaine/parser/include/boost/parser/parser.hpp", line=344, 
    function=<optimized out>) at assert.c:92
92      assert.c: No such file or directory.
(gdb) 
#3  0x00007ffff7bf0f36 in __GI___assert_fail (assertion=0x5555555f7a2c "false", 
    file=0x5555555f7dd8 "/home/tzlaine/parser/include/boost/parser/parser.hpp", line=344, 
    function=0x5555555f7db0 "void boost::parser::none::fail() const") at assert.c:101
101     in assert.c
(gdb) 
#4  0x000055555555f99b in boost::parser::none::fail (this=0x7fffffffc2f0)
    at /home/tzlaine/parser/include/boost/parser/parser.hpp:344
344                 BOOST_ASSERT(false);
(gdb) 
#5  0x000055555559d380 in boost::parser::none::operator bool<bool>() const (this=0x7fffffffc2f0)
    at /home/tzlaine/parser/include/boost/parser/parser.hpp:83
83                  fail();
(gdb) 
#6  0x0000555555590a6b in _ZNK4json11object_initMUlRT_E_clIKN5boost4hana6detail8map_implINS6_10hash_tableIJNS6_6bucketINS4_6parser6detail9begin_tagEJLm0EEEENS9_INSB_7end_tagEJLm1EEEENS9_INSB_8pass_tagEJLm2EEEENS9_INSB_10locals_tagEJLm3EEEENS9_INSB_15rule_params_tagEJLm4EEEENS9_INSB_11globals_tagEJLm5EEEENS9_INSB_16trace_indent_tagEJLm6EEEENS9_INSB_17error_handler_tagEJLm7EEEENS9_INSB_13callbacks_tagEJLm8EEEENS9_INSB_22symbol_table_tries_tagEJLm9EEEENS9_INSB_7val_tagEJLm10EEEENS9_INSB_8attr_tagEJLm11EEEENS9_INSB_9where_tagEJLm12EEEEEEENS5_11basic_tupleIJNS5_4pairINS5_9type_implISC_E1_ENS4_4text20utf_8_to_32_iteratorIPKcS1B_NS18_25use_replacement_characterEEEEENS14_INS15_ISE_E1_ES1D_EENS14_INS15_ISG_E1_EPbEENS14_INS15_ISI_E1_ENSB_4nopeEEENS14_INS15_ISK_E1_ES1O_EENS14_INS15_ISM_E1_EPNS_12global_stateEEENS14_INS15_ISO_E1_EPiEENS14_INS15_ISQ_E1_EPKNSA_22callback_error_handlerEEENS14_INS15_ISS_E1_ES1O_EENS14_INS15_ISU_E1_EPSt3mapIPvNS4_3anyESt4lessIS2E_ESaISt4pairIKS2E_S2F_EEEEENS14_INS15_ISW_E1_EPNS_5valueEEENS14_INS15_ISY_E1_EPS1O_EENS14_INS15_IS10_E1_EPKNSA_4viewIS1D_S1D_EEEEEEEEEEEDaS1_ (__closure=0x7fffffffc9b1, ctx=...)
    at /home/tzlaine/parser/example/json.cpp:103
103             if (x)
(gdb) l
98              auto & globals = _globals(ctx);
99              if (globals.max_recursive_open_count < ++globals.recursive_open_count)
100                 throw excessive_nesting(_where(ctx).begin());
101             _val(ctx) = object();
102             auto x = _locals(ctx);
103             if (x)
104                 std::cout << "Oops!  What x?";
105         };
106
107         // We need object_insert because we can't just insert into the json::value
(gdb) 
``

To find the problem, I just had to move up the stack, with GDB's "up" command,
until I saw that I was in my own code.  Then I listed the code surrounding the
offending line, as you see above.  If I were to keep going up the stack, I
would move through the exact chain of template instantiations _emdash_ at the
exact lines of code where they appear _emdash_ in a few seconds.

This is how the same problem looks with `BOOST_PARSER_NO_RUNTIME_ASSERTIONS`
defined, the definition of which makes the code we added ill-formed instead of
a run time error:

[teletype]``
$ make json
Scanning dependencies of target json
[ 50%] Building CXX object example/CMakeFiles/json.dir/json.cpp.o

/home/tzlaine/parser/example/json.cpp: In instantiation of ‘json::<lambda(auto:58&)> [with auto:58 = const boost::hana::detail::map_impl<boost::hana::detail::hash_table<boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::begin_tag, 0>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::end_tag, 1>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::pass_tag, 2>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::locals_tag, 3>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::rule_params_tag, 4>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::globals_tag, 5>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::trace_indent_tag, 6>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::error_handler_tag, 7>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::callbacks_tag, 8>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::symbol_table_tries_tag, 9>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::val_tag, 10>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::attr_tag, 11>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::where_tag, 12> >, boost::hana::basic_tuple<boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::begin_tag>::_, boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character> >, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::end_tag>::_, boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character> >, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::pass_tag>::_, bool*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::locals_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::rule_params_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::globals_tag>::_, json::global_state*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::trace_indent_tag>::_, int*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::error_handler_tag>::_, const boost::parser::callback_error_handler*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::callbacks_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::symbol_table_tries_tag>::_, std::map<void*, boost::any, std::less<void*>, std::allocator<std::pair<void* const, boost::any> > >*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::val_tag>::_, json::value*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::attr_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::where_tag>::_, const boost::parser::view<boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character>, boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character> >*> > >]’:
/home/tzlaine/parser/include/boost/parser/parser.hpp:3216:24:   required from ‘void boost::parser::action_parser<Parser, Action>::call(boost::hana::bool_<UseCallbacks>, Iter&, Sentinel, const Context&, const SkipParser&, boost::parser::detail::flags, bool&, Attribute&) const [with bool UseCallbacks = false; Iter = boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character>; Sentinel = boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character>; Context = boost::hana::detail::map_impl<boost::hana::detail::hash_table<boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::begin_tag, 0>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::end_tag, 1>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::pass_tag, 2>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::attr_tag, 3>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::locals_tag, 4>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::rule_params_tag, 5>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::globals_tag, 6>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::trace_indent_tag, 7>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::error_handler_tag, 8>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::callbacks_tag, 9>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::symbol_table_tries_tag, 10>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::val_tag, 11> >, boost::hana::basic_tuple<boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::begin_tag>::_, boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character> >, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::end_tag>::_, boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character> >, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::pass_tag>::_, bool*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::attr_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::locals_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::rule_params_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::globals_tag>::_, json::global_state*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::trace_indent_tag>::_, int*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::error_handler_tag>::_, const boost::parser::callback_error_handler*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::callbacks_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::symbol_table_tries_tag>::_, std::map<void*, boost::any, std::less<void*>, std::allocator<std::pair<void* const, boost::any> > >*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::val_tag>::_, json::value*> > >; SkipParser = boost::parser::rule<json::ws>; Attribute = boost::parser::detail::nope; Parser = boost::parser::omit_parser<boost::parser::char_parser<char, void> >; Action = json::<lambda(auto:58&)>; boost::hana::bool_<UseCallbacks> = boost::hana::integral_constant<bool, false>]’
/home/tzlaine/parser/include/boost/parser/parser.hpp:3175:17:   required from ‘boost::parser::detail::nope boost::parser::action_parser<Parser, Action>::call(boost::hana::bool_<UseCallbacks>, Iter&, Sentinel, const Context&, const SkipParser&, boost::parser::detail::flags, bool&) const [with bool UseCallbacks = false; Iter = boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character>; Sentinel = boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character>; Context = boost::hana::detail::map_impl<boost::hana::detail::hash_table<boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::begin_tag, 0>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::end_tag, 1>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::pass_tag, 2>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::attr_tag, 3>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::locals_tag, 4>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::rule_params_tag, 5>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::globals_tag, 6>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::trace_indent_tag, 7>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::error_handler_tag, 8>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::callbacks_tag, 9>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::symbol_table_tries_tag, 10>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::val_tag, 11> >, boost::hana::basic_tuple<boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::begin_tag>::_, boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character> >, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::end_tag>::_, boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character> >, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::pass_tag>::_, bool*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::attr_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::locals_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::rule_params_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::globals_tag>::_, json::global_state*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::trace_indent_tag>::_, int*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::error_handler_tag>::_, const boost::parser::callback_error_handler*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::callbacks_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::symbol_table_tries_tag>::_, std::map<void*, boost::any, std::less<void*>, std::allocator<std::pair<void* const, boost::any> > >*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::val_tag>::_, json::value*> > >; SkipParser = boost::parser::rule<json::ws>; Parser = boost::parser::omit_parser<boost::parser::char_parser<char, void> >; Action = json::<lambda(auto:58&)>; boost::hana::bool_<UseCallbacks> = boost::hana::integral_constant<bool, false>]’
/home/tzlaine/parser/include/boost/parser/parser.hpp:2745:35:   required from ‘auto boost::parser::seq_parser<ParserTuple, BacktrackingTuple>::dummy_use_parser_t<UseCallbacks, Iter, Sentinel, Context, SkipParser>::operator()(const Parser&) const [with Parser = boost::parser::action_parser<boost::parser::omit_parser<boost::parser::char_parser<char, void> >, json::<lambda(auto:58&)> >; bool UseCallbacks = false; Iter = boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character>; Sentinel = boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character>; Context = boost::hana::detail::map_impl<boost::hana::detail::hash_table<boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::begin_tag, 0>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::end_tag, 1>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::pass_tag, 2>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::attr_tag, 3>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::locals_tag, 4>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::rule_params_tag, 5>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::globals_tag, 6>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::trace_indent_tag, 7>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::error_handler_tag, 8>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::callbacks_tag, 9>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::symbol_table_tries_tag, 10>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::val_tag, 11> >, boost::hana::basic_tuple<boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::begin_tag>::_, boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character> >, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::end_tag>::_, boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character> >, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::pass_tag>::_, bool*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::attr_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::locals_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::rule_params_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::globals_tag>::_, json::global_state*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::trace_indent_tag>::_, int*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::error_handler_tag>::_, const boost::parser::callback_error_handler*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::callbacks_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::symbol_table_tries_tag>::_, std::map<void*, boost::any, std::less<void*>, std::allocator<std::pair<void* const, boost::any> > >*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::val_tag>::_, json::value*> > >; SkipParser = boost::parser::rule<json::ws>; ParserTuple = boost::hana::tuple<boost::parser::action_parser<boost::parser::omit_parser<boost::parser::char_parser<char, void> >, json::<lambda(auto:58&)> >, boost::parser::opt_parser<boost::parser::delimited_seq_parser<boost::parser::action_parser<boost::parser::rule_parser<false, json::object_element, boost::hana::tuple<std::__cxx11::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>, std::allocator<char> >, json::value>, boost::parser::detail::nope, boost::parser::detail::nope>, json::<lambda(auto:59&)> >, boost::parser::omit_parser<boost::parser::char_parser<char, void> > > >, boost::parser::omit_parser<boost::parser::char_parser<char, void> > >; BacktrackingTuple = boost::hana::tuple<boost::hana::integral_constant<bool, true>, boost::hana::integral_constant<bool, true>, boost::hana::integral_constant<bool, false> >]’
/home/tzlaine/boost_1_71_0/boost/hana/transform.hpp:62:42:   required from ‘constexpr auto boost::hana::transform_impl<S, boost::hana::when<boost::hana::Sequence<S>::value> >::transformer<F>::operator()(Xs&& ...) const [with Xs = {const boost::parser::action_parser<boost::parser::omit_parser<boost::parser::char_parser<char, void> >, json::<lambda(auto:58&)> >&, const boost::parser::opt_parser<boost::parser::delimited_seq_parser<boost::parser::action_parser<boost::parser::rule_parser<false, json::object_element, boost::hana::tuple<std::__cxx11::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>, std::allocator<char> >, json::value>, boost::parser::detail::nope, boost::parser::detail::nope>, json::<lambda(auto:59&)> >, boost::parser::omit_parser<boost::parser::char_parser<char, void> > > >&, const boost::parser::omit_parser<boost::parser::char_parser<char, void> >&}; F = const boost::parser::seq_parser<boost::hana::tuple<boost::parser::action_parser<boost::parser::omit_parser<boost::parser::char_parser<char, void> >, json::<lambda(auto:58&)> >, boost::parser::opt_parser<boost::parser::delimited_seq_parser<boost::parser::action_parser<boost::parser::rule_parser<false, json::object_element, boost::hana::tuple<std::__cxx11::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>, std::allocator<char> >, json::value>, boost::parser::detail::nope, boost::parser::detail::nope>, json::<lambda(auto:59&)> >, boost::parser::omit_parser<boost::parser::char_parser<char, void> > > >, boost::parser::omit_parser<boost::parser::char_parser<char, void> > >, boost::hana::tuple<boost::hana::integral_constant<bool, true>, boost::hana::integral_constant<bool, true>, boost::hana::integral_constant<bool, false> > >::dummy_use_parser_t<false, boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character>, boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character>, boost::hana::detail::map_impl<boost::hana::detail::hash_table<boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::begin_tag, 0>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::end_tag, 1>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::pass_tag, 2>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::attr_tag, 3>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::locals_tag, 4>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::rule_params_tag, 5>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::globals_tag, 6>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::trace_indent_tag, 7>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::error_handler_tag, 8>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::callbacks_tag, 9>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::symbol_table_tries_tag, 10>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::val_tag, 11> >, boost::hana::basic_tuple<boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::begin_tag>::_, boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character> >, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::end_tag>::_, boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character> >, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::pass_tag>::_, bool*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::attr_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::locals_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::rule_params_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::globals_tag>::_, json::global_state*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::trace_indent_tag>::_, int*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::error_handler_tag>::_, const boost::parser::callback_error_handler*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::callbacks_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::symbol_table_tries_tag>::_, std::map<void*, boost::any, std::less<void*>, std::allocator<std::pair<void* const, boost::any> > >*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::val_tag>::_, json::value*> > >, boost::parser::rule<json::ws> >*; S = boost::hana::tuple_tag]’
/home/tzlaine/boost_1_71_0/boost/hana/basic_tuple.hpp:115:39:   required from ‘static constexpr decltype(auto) boost::hana::unpack_impl<boost::hana::basic_tuple_tag>::apply(const boost::hana::detail::basic_tuple_impl<std::integer_sequence<long unsigned int, _Idx ...>, Xn ...>&, F&&) [with long unsigned int ...i = {0, 1, 2}; Xn = {boost::parser::action_parser<boost::parser::omit_parser<boost::parser::char_parser<char, void> >, json::<lambda(auto:58&)> >, boost::parser::opt_parser<boost::parser::delimited_seq_parser<boost::parser::action_parser<boost::parser::rule_parser<false, json::object_element, boost::hana::tuple<std::__cxx11::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>, std::allocator<char> >, json::value>, boost::parser::detail::nope, boost::parser::detail::nope>, json::<lambda(auto:59&)> >, boost::parser::omit_parser<boost::parser::char_parser<char, void> > > >, boost::parser::omit_parser<boost::parser::char_parser<char, void> >}; F = boost::hana::transform_impl<boost::hana::tuple_tag, boost::hana::when<true> >::transformer<const boost::parser::seq_parser<boost::hana::tuple<boost::parser::action_parser<boost::parser::omit_parser<boost::parser::char_parser<char, void> >, json::<lambda(auto:58&)> >, boost::parser::opt_parser<boost::parser::delimited_seq_parser<boost::parser::action_parser<boost::parser::rule_parser<false, json::object_element, boost::hana::tuple<std::__cxx11::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>, std::allocator<char> >, json::value>, boost::parser::detail::nope, boost::parser::detail::nope>, json::<lambda(auto:59&)> >, boost::parser::omit_parser<boost::parser::char_parser<char, void> > > >, boost::parser::omit_parser<boost::parser::char_parser<char, void> > >, boost::hana::tuple<boost::hana::integral_constant<bool, true>, boost::hana::integral_constant<bool, true>, boost::hana::integral_constant<bool, false> > >::dummy_use_parser_t<false, boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character>, boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character>, boost::hana::detail::map_impl<boost::hana::detail::hash_table<boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::begin_tag, 0>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::end_tag, 1>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::pass_tag, 2>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::attr_tag, 3>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::locals_tag, 4>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::rule_params_tag, 5>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::globals_tag, 6>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::trace_indent_tag, 7>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::error_handler_tag, 8>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::callbacks_tag, 9>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::symbol_table_tries_tag, 10>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::val_tag, 11> >, boost::hana::basic_tuple<boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::begin_tag>::_, boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character> >, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::end_tag>::_, boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character> >, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::pass_tag>::_, bool*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::attr_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::locals_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::rule_params_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::globals_tag>::_, json::global_state*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::trace_indent_tag>::_, int*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::error_handler_tag>::_, const boost::parser::callback_error_handler*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::callbacks_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::symbol_table_tries_tag>::_, std::map<void*, boost::any, std::less<void*>, std::allocator<std::pair<void* const, boost::any> > >*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::val_tag>::_, json::value*> > >, boost::parser::rule<json::ws> >*>]’
/home/tzlaine/boost_1_71_0/boost/hana/unpack.hpp:47:29:   [ skipping 20 instantiation contexts, use -ftemplate-backtrace-limit=0 to disable ]
/home/tzlaine/parser/example/json.cpp:262:5:   required from ‘void json::parse_rule(boost::parser::rule_parser<false, json::value_tag, json::value, boost::parser::detail::nope, boost::parser::detail::nope>::tag_type*, boost::hana::bool_<b>, Iter&, Sentinel, const Context&, const SkipParser&, boost::parser::detail::flags, bool&, Attribute&) [with bool UseCallbacks = false; Iter = boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character>; Sentinel = boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character>; Context = boost::hana::detail::map_impl<boost::hana::detail::hash_table<boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::begin_tag, 0>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::end_tag, 1>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::pass_tag, 2>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::attr_tag, 3>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::locals_tag, 4>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::rule_params_tag, 5>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::globals_tag, 6>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::trace_indent_tag, 7>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::error_handler_tag, 8>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::callbacks_tag, 9>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::symbol_table_tries_tag, 10>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::val_tag, 11> >, boost::hana::basic_tuple<boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::begin_tag>::_, boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character> >, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::end_tag>::_, boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character> >, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::pass_tag>::_, bool*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::attr_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::locals_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::rule_params_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::globals_tag>::_, json::global_state*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::trace_indent_tag>::_, int*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::error_handler_tag>::_, const boost::parser::callback_error_handler*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::callbacks_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::symbol_table_tries_tag>::_, std::map<void*, boost::any, std::less<void*>, std::allocator<std::pair<void* const, boost::any> > >*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::val_tag>::_, json::value*> > >; SkipParser = boost::parser::rule<json::ws>; Attribute = json::value; boost::parser::rule_parser<false, json::value_tag, json::value, boost::parser::detail::nope, boost::parser::detail::nope>::tag_type = json::value_tag; boost::hana::bool_<b> = boost::hana::integral_constant<bool, false>]’
/home/tzlaine/parser/include/boost/parser/parser.hpp:3707:23:   required from ‘boost::parser::rule_parser<false, TagType, Attribute, LocalState, ParamsTuple>::attr_type boost::parser::rule_parser<false, TagType, Attribute, LocalState, ParamsTuple>::call(boost::hana::bool_<UseCallbacks>, Iter&, Sentinel, const Context&, const SkipParser&, boost::parser::detail::flags, bool&) const [with bool UseCallbacks = false; Iter = boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character>; Sentinel = boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character>; Context = boost::hana::detail::map_impl<boost::hana::detail::hash_table<boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::begin_tag, 0>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::end_tag, 1>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::pass_tag, 2>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::val_tag, 3>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::attr_tag, 4>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::locals_tag, 5>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::rule_params_tag, 6>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::globals_tag, 7>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::trace_indent_tag, 8>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::error_handler_tag, 9>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::callbacks_tag, 10>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::symbol_table_tries_tag, 11> >, boost::hana::basic_tuple<boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::begin_tag>::_, boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character> >, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::end_tag>::_, boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character> >, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::pass_tag>::_, bool*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::val_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::attr_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::locals_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::rule_params_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::globals_tag>::_, json::global_state*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::trace_indent_tag>::_, int*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::error_handler_tag>::_, const boost::parser::callback_error_handler*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::callbacks_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::symbol_table_tries_tag>::_, std::map<void*, boost::any, std::less<void*>, std::allocator<std::pair<void* const, boost::any> > >*> > >; SkipParser = boost::parser::rule<json::ws>; TagType = json::value_tag; Attribute = json::value; LocalState = boost::parser::detail::nope; ParamsTuple = boost::parser::detail::nope; boost::parser::rule_parser<false, TagType, Attribute, LocalState, ParamsTuple>::attr_type = json::value; boost::hana::bool_<UseCallbacks> = boost::hana::integral_constant<bool, false>]’
/home/tzlaine/parser/include/boost/parser/parser.hpp:4155:32:   required from ‘auto boost::parser::parser_interface<Parser, GlobalState, ErrorHandler>::operator()(boost::hana::bool_<UseCallbacks>, Iter&, Sentinel, const Context&, const SkipParserType&, boost::parser::detail::flags, bool&) const [with bool UseCallbacks = false; Iter = boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character>; Sentinel = boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character>; Context = boost::hana::detail::map_impl<boost::hana::detail::hash_table<boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::begin_tag, 0>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::end_tag, 1>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::pass_tag, 2>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::val_tag, 3>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::attr_tag, 4>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::locals_tag, 5>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::rule_params_tag, 6>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::globals_tag, 7>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::trace_indent_tag, 8>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::error_handler_tag, 9>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::callbacks_tag, 10>, boost::hana::detail::bucket<boost::parser::detail::symbol_table_tries_tag, 11> >, boost::hana::basic_tuple<boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::begin_tag>::_, boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character> >, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::end_tag>::_, boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character> >, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::pass_tag>::_, bool*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::val_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::attr_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::locals_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::rule_params_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::globals_tag>::_, json::global_state*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::trace_indent_tag>::_, int*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::error_handler_tag>::_, const boost::parser::callback_error_handler*>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::callbacks_tag>::_, boost::parser::detail::nope>, boost::hana::pair<boost::hana::type_impl<boost::parser::detail::symbol_table_tries_tag>::_, std::map<void*, boost::any, std::less<void*>, std::allocator<std::pair<void* const, boost::any> > >*> > >; SkipParserType = boost::parser::rule<json::ws>; Parser = boost::parser::rule_parser<false, json::value_tag, json::value, boost::parser::detail::nope, boost::parser::detail::nope>; GlobalState = json::global_state&; ErrorHandler = boost::parser::callback_error_handler&; boost::hana::bool_<UseCallbacks> = boost::hana::integral_constant<bool, false>]’
/home/tzlaine/parser/include/boost/parser/parser.hpp:1808:43:   required from ‘auto boost::parser::detail::skip_parse_impl(Iter&, Sentinel, const Parser&, const SkipParser&, const ErrorHandler&) [with bool Debug = true; Iter = boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character>; Sentinel = boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character>; Parser = boost::parser::parser_interface<boost::parser::rule_parser<false, json::value_tag, json::value, boost::parser::detail::nope, boost::parser::detail::nope>, json::global_state&, boost::parser::callback_error_handler&>; SkipParser = boost::parser::rule<json::ws>; ErrorHandler = boost::parser::callback_error_handler]’
/home/tzlaine/parser/include/boost/parser/parser.hpp:6369:53:   required from ‘auto boost::parser::parse(I&, S, const boost::parser::parser_interface<Parser, GlobalState, ErrorHandler>&, const boost::parser::rule<TagType, Attribute, LocalState, ParamsTuple>&, boost::parser::trace) [with I = boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character>; S = boost::text::utf_8_to_32_iterator<const char*, const char*, boost::text::use_replacement_character>; Parser = boost::parser::rule_parser<false, json::value_tag, json::value, boost::parser::detail::nope, boost::parser::detail::nope>; GlobalState = json::global_state&; ErrorHandler = boost::parser::callback_error_handler&; TagType = json::ws; Attribute = boost::parser::detail::nope; LocalState = boost::parser::detail::nope; ParamsTuple = boost::parser::detail::nope]’
/home/tzlaine/parser/example/json.cpp:313:53:   required from here
/home/tzlaine/parser/example/json.cpp:103:13: error: could not convert ‘x’ from ‘boost::parser::none’ to ‘bool’
  103 |         if (x)
      |             ^
      |             |
      |             boost::parser::none
make[3]: *** [example/CMakeFiles/json.dir/build.make:63: example/CMakeFiles/json.dir/json.cpp.o] Error 1
make[2]: *** [CMakeFiles/Makefile2:1668: example/CMakeFiles/json.dir/all] Error 2
make[1]: *** [CMakeFiles/Makefile2:1675: example/CMakeFiles/json.dir/rule] Error 2
make: *** [Makefile:827: json] Error 2
``

Some very familiar problems should be noted here:

* Most of the template instantiation stack is missing (20 instantiation
  contexts, as you can see indicated in the middle).  If the problem occurred
  there, it's that much harder to find.

* That's a lot of text to try and read and understand (try scrolling
  horizontally, there's a lot more).

* Worst of all, `object_init` may be used with multiple rules, some of which
  have locals, and some of which do not.  While it's nice that the last line
  of the error diagnostic points us to the ill-formed use of a _n_, we don't
  know which *parser plus semantic action* is the problem.  With a stack trace
  in a debugger, we would know that in a few seconds.  In this case, we'd have
  a long slog trying to figure out exactly where the problem lies.

[heading Attribute types are flexible]

This is how we get genericity in attribute generation.  In the STL, we can use
multiple types of container with the algorithms because iterators act as the
glue that connects algorithms to containers.  With attribute generation, there
are instead arbitrary types being constructed and inserted into containers.
Allowing the insertion to happen on arbitrary types that model the `container`
concept is what allows generic use of different containers.

[heading Sequences of character type are treated specially]

_Parser_ attempts to keep the rules for attribute generation simple.  However,
there are some rules for attribute generation that only apply to character
types like `char` and `char32_t`.  Sequences of these produce a `std::string`
attribute, while sequences of every other type produce `std::vector`s.  There
are a couple of reasons for this.

First, strings and vectors are different.  We know that strings are just
arrays of numbers, but we have a whole different type for them, `std::string`.
It has a different API, and other code that operates on text expects a string
instead of some other container.  Arrays of characters are already considered
special by the standard library and common practice in C++.

Second, when you write a parser that parses multiple characters in a row, you
are typically trying to produce a string attribute, rather than a few
individual character values.  When you use multiple non-character parsers in a
row, you are typically trying to produce multiple values.  For instance:

    namespace bp = boost::parser;
    auto parser_1 = bp::char_ >> bp::char_ >> -bp::char_;
    auto parser_2 = +(bp::char_ - ' ') >> ' ' >> +(bp::char_ - ' ');

I don't know about you, but I've rarely written a parser like `parser_1` and
wanted to produce a `_bp_tup_<char, char, std::optional<char>>`.  Similarly,
I've rarely written a parser like `parser_2` and wanted a
`std::vector<std::string>`.

_Parser_ therefore makes the common case the default behavior, and provides
you with the _merge_ and _sep_ directives to let you opt in to generating the
less-common attributes.

[heading Attribute compatibility rules are more strict than in Spirit]

Consider this parser.

    namespace bp = boost::parser;
    auto parser = -(bp::char_ % ',');

But _Parser_ and Spirit consider the attribute type of this parser to be
`optional<SEQ-OF<char>>`.  However, Spirit allows you to parse that into a
`std::vector<char>` or a `std::string`, and _Parser_ does not.  _Parser_
requires you to parse that into a `std::optional<std::string>`, or change the
parser to `-(bp::char_ % ',') | bp::attr(std::string{})`.  In other words,
Spirit considers an optional of a-sequence-of-one-or-more to be equivalent to
just a sequence, because the empty state of the sequence represents the empty
optional state.  _Parser_ does not.  Why the strictness?

I understand why Spirit works that way _emdash_ there's no loss of
information, so why not?  However, I don't agree with that approach.

When I write `operator-`, I get a `std::optional`. That's a simple rule.

If I did write `operator-`, I was opting in to getting a `std::optional`. The
code expresses that intent.  If the library changes my written intent, there
better be a damn good reason.

There is of course an exception to the "simple rule" above -- if I write `-p1
>> *p2`, and the `ATTR(p1)` is the same as `ATTR(p2)`, attributes are the
same, the optional value gets slurped up into the container. I consider this a
"damn good reason", because this is a very common use case.  For other,
less-common cases, _sep_ can be used to keep the attributes non-combining. So
`separate[-int_ >> *int_]` has the attribute `_bp_tup_<std::optional<int>,
std::vector<int>>`.  This makes opting out of this exception very easy, and
the intent remains visible in the code.

By contrast, "I wrote `-+int_` but I really want a `std::vector<int>` instead
of a `std::optional<std::vector<int>>`" is not a really common use case.

Also, Spirit-style looseness is more complicated than `parser` above
indicates.  Remember, `int_ | eps` and `-int_` are supposed to be semantically
equivalent.  To do otherwise this would be a profound violation of the
principle of least surprise.  So, if they're equivalent, we would need to
apply the same rule to `int_ | eps`.  This is a lot to remember, and this is
complicated to implement and maintain.

I've been using Spirit 1 and later Spirit 2 since they were released.  I did
not know about the particular looseness discussed here; a user pointed it out
on GitHub.  In many years of using these libraries, I never fully learned all
the attribute-compatibility rules, and was often surprised by them.

Having a small set of rules that the user can internalize is vital; if the
attribute generated is different from my expressed intent, that's a problem.
For this not to be a problem, I need to be able to understand the rules, so I
can express my intent, and not be surprised.

[heading Out-parameter attributes passed to _p_ are cleared on parse failure]

At the end of a call to any of the _p_ overloads that takes an attribute
out-param (including variants like _cbp_, etc.), the parse either succeeds or
fails.  If the call fails, the attribute is explicitly "cleared" by assigning
its default-constructed value.

This is done because it's the less bad of two options.  Consider the other
option first.

    // Without explicit clearing.
    namespace bp = boost::parser;
    std::vector<int> result;
    auto b = bp::parse("3 4 c", +bp::int_, bp::ws, result);
    assert(!b);
    assert(result == std::vector<int>({3, 4}));

This is odd _emdash_ the parse failed, but the out-param has partial results
in it anyway.  This happens because the parser `+bp::int_` only fails if it
cannot match at `bp::int_` at least once.  Above, it matches it twice, meaning
that it succeeds (if it had failed, it would have cleared its attribute).  It
does not know that there is nothing after it that could continue the parse,
nor that it is being used in to do a full parse.  So, the over-all parse
fails, but the part of the parse that fills in the out-param attribute does
not know to clear its attribute.

This is why the explicit clearing behavior happens at the end of _p_.  This is
not without its downsides, though.  Consider this.

    // With explicit clearing.
    namespace bp = boost::parser;
    std::string str = "-42";
    int i = 3;
    bool b = parse(str, bp::uint_, i);
    assert(!b);
    assert(i == 0);

Here, the explicit clearing replaces the previous value of `3`, even though
the parser never touched the value!  Destroying users' variables' state
without need may seem like a bad idea, but consider the alternative _emdash_
in the previous example, we had spurious values left in the out-param
attribute.  Here, without clearing, we would have had a value left in the
out-param attribute, not because it was a partial result of the parse, but
because the parse never touched it.  This is certain to be confusing, or at
least surprising, behavior.  I deemed it better to make the failed parse case
consistent, to reduce confusion.  The out-param attribute of type `A` is
always equal to `A()` if the parser fails.  It is equal to whatever the parser
sets it to _emdash_ or its previous value, if the parser does not mutate it
_emdash_ if the parse succeeds.

[heading There are no _Spirit_-style character class parsers]

_Spirit_ has these character class parsers that recognize the same set of
characters as the C standard library's character class functions.  For
instance, _Spirit_'s `alnum` recognizes the characters recognized by
`std::isalnum()`, its `punct` recognizes the characters recognized by
`std::ispunct()`, etc.

The problem with this is that those `std::is*()` functions are badly broken.
They do not even work correctly for ASCII values.  This is because they use
the C standard library's locale mechanism, which can be set to anything the
current platform supports, and can be set by any code anywhere in your
program; the locale is mutable global state.  So, even if you use the default
C locale in your program, if you link against a library that sets the locale
to something that breaks ASCII character recognition (an EBCDIC locale, for
instance), your program is now incorrect, regardless of the code you wrote.

For this reason, I firmly believe that no one, anywhere, should use those C
functions in production code, and I am not supporting their use via _Parser_.

[endsect]
