Hi Patrick,
it's really two different concepts that both deal with, well,
recognizing patterns.
Regex is mostly applicable when you parse strings, and so it is in
Erlang, too.
The pattern matching comes into play most prominently for function
parameters lists and variable assignments.
Thus, also in Erlang, you'd have regex to parse strings and then a
different application of pattern matching for assignments, which
have a similar role as late object-dependant bindings in OOP
languages, or the case switches of procedural languages that this
replaced. In Haskell it's actually also types that you can match,
in Erlang it is data structure and content.
Find some brilliant, free enlightenment here: http://learnyousomeerlang.com/syntax-in-functions#pattern-matching
and here: http://learnyouahaskell.com/syntax-in-functions#pattern-matching
Out of context it may be a bit tough but then why not read the
tutorials, they are thrilling and very well made.
Henning
On 9/26/10 1:19 PM, Patrick Mc(avery wrote: Hi Scott
I am having some trouble trying to learn more about pattern matching
and when to use it over regular expressions.
Trying this:
"pattern matching" vs "regular expressions"
With Google only seems to lead to discussions about regular
expressions. I am hoping to avoid paying for Erlang and Prolog
books.
I hope this is appropriate....maybe I can explain what I am trying
to achieve.
I work with scientific instruments and right now I am trying to
build a disassembler. I am assuming that all of the commands that an
instrument will respond to are encoded in it's firmware. It's my
goal to extract these, that way I(and others) could control
instrumentation without access to it's expensive proprietary
software.
Does Tamale for disassembly sound plausible?
Thanks-Patrick