[dream-on]

I fail to see the mystery. In my opinion, state machines are the most straight-forward parts of programming.

There is a learning curve with lex and yacc but if you cannot ever use these programs then what can you really call yourself a programmer?

It's the endless search for a "new" programming language and the layers upon layers of needless abstraction created by today's "programmers" that I find mystifying.

[UK-AL]

using lex and yacc, is not the same thing as knowing how lex and yacc work.

[dream-on]

Very true. But for mere mortals, one thing at a time.