I'm trying write a lexer for a language that uses * in the first column to indicate the entire line is a comment. It also uses '*' for multiplication, and "**" for exponentation.

I've had some trouble with the grammar, and finally came up with this...

			

			protected
			

			MULT : '*' ;
			

			

			protected
			

			EXP : "**" ;
			

			

			STAR_COMMENT     : ('*' { if (getColumn() == 2)
			

			{
			

			BitSet temp_bitset = new BitSet();
			

			temp_bitset.add('
			

			');
			

			temp_bitset.add('
			

			');
			

			consumeUntil(temp_bitset);
			

			$setType(Token.SKIP);
			

			}
			

			else if (LA(1) == '*') {
			

			consume();
			

			$setType(EXP);
			

			}
			

			else {
			

			$setType(MULT);
			

			}
			

			} )
			

			;
			

		

So I thought someone might have a suggestion or two.

BTW, I have experience with C/C++ and VB, but Java and ANTLR are new to me. Actually, ANTLR is the reason I've started learning Java.

Thanks.