Advanced C Programming

Spring 2023 ECE 264 :: Purdue University

Alchemy details (also sent last week)
Due 4/3

JSON 3

Learning goals

You will learn or practice how to:

  1. Parse strings
  2. Apply test-driven development (TDD).
  3. Use union and enum types.
  4. Write programs that use dynamic memory (malloc(…))
  5. Debug code that uses dynamic memory (malloc(…))
  6. Practice writing programs with linked lists.
  7. Write programs using more complex data structures (beyond the cannonical linked list and BST).

Overview

This is part 3 of a 4-part sequence in which you will create a decoder for the JSON data format.

JSON is a file format for exchanging hierarchical data between programs, often written in different programming languages and/or on different computers. In web programming, this allows a server application written in any language (e.g., Python or even C) to pass complex structures of information to the user's browser, which then renders it.

A JSON string may represent a number, a string, or a list. In this context, when we say “list”, we mean a linked list. Here are some examples:

type json data
number 10 10
string "ten" "ten"
list [2, 6, 4] linked list with values 2, 6, 4

Parts of this assignment

Originally, this was one assignment. Over time, we have split it into pieces to help you manage your time and efforts. (The assignment has also evolved, as all assignments do.)

HW10
  • Implement parse_int(…).
  • Implement parse_element(…), parse_json(…), and print_element(…)—but for now, they only need to work for integer expressions.
  • Instructor's solution: 43 SLOC
HW11
  • Add parse_string(…).
  • Extend parse_element(…) and print_element(…) to work with strings expressions, as well as integer expressions.
  • Instructor's solution: 79 SLOC
HW13
  • Add parse_list(…), but it only needs to work for flat, correct list expressions. Examples:
    • Might be tested: []
      [1]
      [1,"two",3]
    • Will not be tested for HW13:
      [1, ["two", "three"], 4]
      [768, 336
      [ , 768336]
      [, 2,]
      [1 2]
  • Extend parse_element(…) and print_element(…) to work with lists, as well as integers and strings.
  • Instructor's solution: 113 SLOC
HW14
  • Everything works.
  • Instructor's solution: 127 SLOC

Linked lists

As in C, whitespace is ignored (except within a string). Thus, the following are all equivalent.

type json data
list [2, 6, 4] linked list with values 2, 6, 4
list [2, 6, "four"] linked list with values 2, 6, "four"
list [2, [3, "+", 3], "four"] linked list with values 2, (3, "+", 3), "four"

Getting Started on HW13

  1. Use 264get HW13 to fetch the starter code.
    you@ecegrid-thin1 ~/ $ cd 264
    you@ecegrid-thin1 ~/264/ $ 264get hw13
  2. Copy your miniunit.h, log_macros.h, and Makefile from any previous assignment.
    you@ecegrid-thin1 ~/264/ $ mv HW██/miniunit.h HW██/log_macros.h HW██/Makefile -v -t hw13/
    you@ecegrid-thin1 ~/264/ $ cd hw13
    you@ecegrid-thin1 ~/264/hw13 $
  3. Implement parse_int(…).
    1. Create a trivial test (e.g., 0).
    2. Implement just enough of parse_int(…) so that it passes your trivial test. At this point, it should fail most other tests.
    3. Submit.
    4. Add another simple trivial test (e.g., 9).
    5. Implement just enough to pass your two tests so far.
    6. Submit.
    7. Add another test (e.g., 15).
    8. Implement just enough to pass your three tests so far.
    9. Submit.
    10. Add another test (e.g., -15).
    11. … and so on, until parse_int(…) is finished.
  4. Test your parse_int(…) completely, using miniunit.h. Get parse_int(…) completely finished and tested to perfection—including error handling—before you do anything else. Seriously… do not do anything else until this is done.
  5. Submit.
  6. Implement parse_element(…) just enough to support integers.
    1. Add a test for a plain integer. Be sure to call it from main(…).
      static int _test_parse_element_int_plain() {
        mu_start();
        //────────────────────
        Element element; // will be initialized by parse_element(…)
        char const* input = "1";
        char const* pos = input;
        bool is_success = parse_element(&element, &pos);
        mu_check(is_success);
        mu_check(element.as_int == 1);
        mu_check(element.type == ELEMENT_INT);
        mu_check(pos == input + 1);  // pos should now refer to the byte just after the '1' at input.
        mu_check(*pos == '\0');      // That byte should be the null terminator.
        //────────────────────
        mu_end();
      }
      
    2. Add just enough code to parse_element(…) to make this test pass. Expect to add about 2−4 lines of code inside parse_element(…).
    3. Test.
    4. Submit.
    5. Extend the test function above to test for negative numbers.
      // negative number
      input = "-2";
      pos = input;
      is_success = parse_element(&element, &pos);
      mu_check(is_success);
      mu_check(element.as_int == -2);
      mu_check(element.type == ELEMENT_INT);
      mu_check(pos == input + 2);  // pos should now refer to the byte just after the '2'.
      mu_check(*pos == '\0');      // That byte should be the null terminator.
      
    6. Test.
    7. Submit.
    8. Add a test for a integer with leading whitespace. Be sure to call it from main(…).
      static int _test_parse_element_with_leading_whitespace() {
        mu_start();
        //────────────────────
        Element element; // will be initialized by parse_element(…)
        char const* input = "  1";
        char const* pos = input;
        bool is_success = parse_element(&element, &pos);
        mu_check(is_success);
        mu_check(element.as_int == 1);
        mu_check(element.type == ELEMENT_INT);
        mu_check(pos == input + 3);  // pos should now refer to the byte just after the '1' at input.
        mu_check(*pos == '\0');      // That byte should be the null terminator.
        //────────────────────
        mu_end();
      }
      
    9. Add just enough code to parse_element(…) to make this test pass. Expect to add about 1−3 lines of code inside parse_element(…).
    10. Test.
    11. Submit.
    12. Add a test function for some more cases involving integers. Here is a start. This is not adequate. You need to extend this with your own test cases.
      static int _test_parse_element_int_oddballs() {
        mu_start();
        //────────────────────
        Element element; // will be initialized by parse_element(…)
        char const* input = " 4 A";
        char const* pos = input;
        bool is_success = parse_element(&element, &pos);
        mu_check(is_success);
        mu_check(element.as_int == 4);
        mu_check(element.type == ELEMENT_INT);
        mu_check(pos == input + 2);  // pos should now refer to the byte just after the '1' at input.
        mu_check(*pos == ' ');    // That byte contains a space.
      
        // TODO: Add more tests here based on your ideas for tests.
      
        //────────────────────
        mu_end();
      }
      
    13. You may or may not not need to add any code to make these tests pass.
    14. Test.
    15. Submit.
    16. Add a test function for strings that contain integers but are not valid JSON because they are preceded by junk characters (not whitespace).
      static int _test_parse_element_invalid() {
        mu_start();
        //────────────────────
        Element element; // will be initialized by parse_element(…)
        char const* input = "--4";
        char const* pos = input;
        bool is_success = parse_element(&element, &pos);
        mu_check(! is_success);
        mu_check(pos == input + 1);  // pos should now refer to second '-' since that is the
                                     // character where we learn that this is not a valid JSON
                                     // expression for an int.
        mu_check(*pos == '-'); // That byte contains a '-'.
      
        // TODO: Add more tests here based on your ideas for tests.
      
        //────────────────────
        mu_end();
      }
      
    17. You may or may not not need to add any code to make these tests pass.
    18. Test.
    19. Submit.
  7. Implement parse_string(…).
    1. Create a test function for a valid JSON expression representing an empty string.
      static int _test_parse_string_valid_empty() {
        mu_start();
        //──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
        char* result;
        char const* input = "\"\"";
        char const* pos = input;
        bool is_success = parse_string(&result, &pos);
        mu_check(is_success);   // because the input is valid
        mu_check_strings_equal("", result);
        mu_check(pos == input + 2);
        mu_check(*pos == '\0');
        free(result);
        //──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
        mu_end();
      }
      
    2. Implement just enough of parse_string(…) to make this test pass.
    3. Test.
    4. Submit.
    5. Create a test function for a valid JSON expression representing a string of size one.
      static int _test_parse_string_valid_one_char() {
        mu_start();
        //──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
        char* result;
        char const* input = "\"A\"";
        char const* pos = input;
        bool is_success = parse_string(&result, &pos);
        mu_check(is_success);   // because the input is valid
        mu_check_strings_equal("A", result);
        mu_check(pos == input + 3);
        mu_check(*pos == '\0');
        free(result);
        //──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
        mu_end();
      }
      
    6. Implement just enough of parse_string(…) to make this test pass.
    7. Test.
    8. Submit.
    9. Create a test function for a valid JSON expression representing a string containing multiple characters.
      static int _test_parse_string_valid_multiple_chars() {
        mu_start();
        //──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
        char* result;
        char const* input = "\"ABC\"";
        char const* pos = input;
        bool is_success = parse_string(&result, &pos);
        mu_check(is_success);   // because the input is valid
        mu_check_strings_equal("ABC", result);
        mu_check(pos == input + 5);
        mu_check(*pos == '\0');
        free(result);
        //──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
        mu_end();
      }
      
    10. Implement just enough of parse_string(…) to make this test pass.
    11. Test.
    12. Submit.
    13. Add test function(s) to check strings that contain double quotation marks but are not valid JSON. Here is a start. You will need to add more of your own.
      static int _test_parse_string_invalid() {
        mu_start();
        //──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
        char* result;
        char const* input = "\"A";
        char const* pos = input;
        bool is_success = parse_string(&result, &pos);
        mu_check(! is_success);   // because the input is valid
        mu_check(pos == input + 2);
        mu_check(*pos == '\0');
        // We do not call free(…) if the string was invalid.
      
        input = "\"A\nB\"";
        pos = input;
        is_success = parse_string(&result, &pos);
        mu_check(! is_success);   // because the input is valid
        mu_check(pos == input + 2);
        mu_check(*pos == '\n');
      
        // TODO: Add more tests of your own.
      
        //──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
        mu_end();
      }
      
  8. Extend parse_element(…) to support strings. You will need to implement free_element(…) in the same step.
    1. Add a test for a plain string containing multiple characters. Be sure to call it from main(…).
      static int _test_parse_element_string() {
        mu_start();
        //────────────────────
        Element element; // will be initialized by parse_element(…)
        char const* input = "\"ABC\"";
        char const* pos = input;
        bool is_success = parse_element(&element, &pos);
        mu_check(is_success);
        mu_check_strings_equal("ABC", element.as_string);
        mu_check(element.type == ELEMENT_STRING);
        mu_check(pos == input + 5);  // pos should now refer to the byte just after the second double quote.
        mu_check(*pos == '\0');      // That byte should be the null terminator.
        free_element(element);
        //────────────────────
        mu_end();
      }
      
    2. Add just enough code to parse_element(…) to make this test pass. Expect to add about 4 lines of code inside parse_element(…) and 1−3 lines inside free_element(…).
    3. Test.
    4. Submit.
    5. Add additional tests as needed to ensure that parse_element(…) works for JSON expressions representing strings and integers.
    6. Test.
    7. Submit.
  9. Implement print_element(…) so that it supports integers and strings.
    1. Add a test for Element objects that contain an integer. This will not use Miniunit. Since this is simple, you an use visual inspection (just look).
      static void _test_print_element() {
        Element element; // will be initialized by parse_element(…)
        char const* input = "123";
        bool is_success = parse_element(&element, &input);
        printf("Testing parse_element(&element, \"123\")\n");
        printf(" - Expected: 123\n");
        printf(" - Actual:   ");
        print_element(element);
        fputc('\n', stdout);
        free_element(element);
      }
      
    2. Add just enough code to print_element(…) to make this test pass. Expect to add about 1―3 lines of code inside print_element(…).
    3. Test.
    4. Submit.
    5. Add a test for Element objects that contain an string. Again, this will not use Miniunit.
      static int _test_print_element() {
        mu_start();
        //──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
        // This uses diff testing to check print_element(…).
        Element element; // will be initialized by parse_element(…)
        char const* input = "\"ABC\"";
        bool is_success = parse_element(&element, &input);
        printf("Testing parse_element(&element, \"\\\"ABC\\\"\")\n");
        printf(" - Expected: \"ABC\"\n");
        printf(" - Actual:   ");
        print_element(element);
        fputc('\n', stdout);
        free_element(element);
        //──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
        mu_end();
      }
      
    6. Add just enough code to print_element(…) to make this test pass. Expect to add about 3―5 lines of code inside print_element(…).
    7. Test.
    8. Submit.
  10. Implement parse_list(…).
    1. Create a trivial test (e.g., []).
    2. Implement just enough of parse_list(…) so that it passes your trivial test (functionality only). It should fail all other tests with linked lists.
    3. Extend free_element(…) so that your parse_list(…) tests work without any memory leaks (e.g., passes Valgrind).
    4. Add another simple test (e.g., [0]).
    5. Implement just enough to pass your two list tests so far.
    6. Add another simple test (e.g., ["a"]).
    7. Implement just enough to pass your three list tests so far.
    8. Add a test with multiple integers as list items (e.g., [1, 2]).
    9. Implement just enough to pass your tests so far.
    10. Add a test with multiple strings as list items (e.g., ["A", "B"]).
    11. You shouldn't need to add any code for this, but make sure it works 100% before you proceed.
    12. Add a test with an empty list as a list item (e.g., [[]]).
    13. Implement just enough to pass your tests so far.
    14. Add a test with a non-empty list as a list item (e.g., [[1]]).
    15. Implement just enough to pass your tests so far.
    16. Add a few more tests with gradually increasing complexity (e.g., [[1, 2]], [1, [2, 3], 4], [[1, 2], [3, 4], []]).
    17. Test as needed. Get things perfect—including memory (Valgrind) and test coverage (gcov)—and submit at every stage.
  11. Test error cases. Make sure parse_int(…), parse_list(…), and parse_element(…) return false for incorrect input.
  12. Test that there are no memory leaks, even for incorrect input.

How much work is this?

You must be disciplined in your development appraoch. If you try to build this all at once, success is extremely unlikely.

HW10: Instructor's solution for parse_int(…) only is 18 sloc (14 sloc in the body of parse_int(…)).

HW11: Instructor's solution for parse_int(…), parse_string(…), and parse_element(…) only is 75 sloc.

HW14: Instructor's solution for parse_int(…), parse_string(…), parse_list(…), and parse_element(…) is 127 sloc.

SLOC means “source lines of code” and does not lines that are blank or contain only comments. The figures above do not count test_json.c. Also, those figures are based on a tight—but defensible—solution that meets code quality standards and uses no methods or language features we have not yet covered.

Requirements

  1. Your submission must contain each of the following files, as specified:
    file contents
    json.c functions
    parse int(int✶ a value, char const✶✶ a pos)
    return type: bool
    Set *a_value to whatever integer value is found at *a_pos.
    1. *a_pos is initially the address of the first character of the integer literal in the input string.
    2. *a_value is the (already allocated) location where the parsed int should be stored.
    3. Return true if a properly formed integer literal was found at *a_pos*a_pos should refer to the next character in the input string, i.e., after the last digit of the integer literal.
      1. Ex: parse_int(…) should return true for 9, -99, and 123AAA.
    4. Return false if an integer literal was not found.  *a_pos should refer to the unexpected character that indicated a problem.
      1. Ex: parse_int(…) should return false for A, AAA123, -A, -A9, and -.
    5. Calling parse_int(…) should not result in any calls to malloc(…).
    6. You do not need to parse hexadecimal, octal, scientific notation, floating point values, or anything other than integers in decimal notation (positive or negative). You may assume any integer is within the range of an int on our platform (i.e., ≥INT_MIN and ≤INT_MAX).
    7. Whenever parse_int(…) returns false, *a_value should not be modified.
    8. parse_int(…) should ignore any trailing characters that come after the last digit in the number.

    Examples

    parse_int(…) should return true for any of these:
    9-99768336YAK768336 EMU

    parse_int(…) should return false for any of these:
    AAAA123-A-A9- 

    parse string(char✶✶ a string, char const✶✶ a pos)
    return type: bool
    Set *a_string to a copy of the string literal at *a_pos.
    1. Caller is responsible for freeing the memory.
    2. A string literal must be surrounded by double quotation marks, and may not contain a newline. In addition, we make two simplifications:
      • Strings may not contain double quotation marks.
      • Backslash is not special. Do not parse escape codes (i.e., "\▒") in the input.
    3. Calling parse_string(…) should result in exactly one call to malloc(…).
    4. Return true if a properly formed string literal was found.  *a_pos should be set to the next character in the input string, i.e., after the ending double quotation mark.
    5. Return false if a string literal was not found.  *a_pos should refer to the unexpected character that indicated a problem (e.g., newline or null terminator in the input).
    6. Whenever parse_string(…) returns false, do not modify *a_string, and no heap memory should be allocated.
    7. parse_string(…) should ignore any trailing characters that come after the closing double quotation mark.

    Examples

    parse_string(…) should return true for any of these:
    "antfox""emubee\""tompup\z""ratkoi"YAK"doecod" YAK 

    parse_string(…) should return false for any of these:
    "henjay""ram
    dog"
    768336"eelfly"768336 "catbug" 

    parse list(Node✶✶ a head, char const✶✶ a pos)
    return type: bool
    Set *a_head to the head of a linked list of Element objects.
    1. Caller is responsible for freeing the memory if parse_list(…) returns true.
    2. Linked list consists of a '[', followed by 0 or more JSON-encoded elements (integers, strings, or lists) separated by commas, and finally a ']'. See the examples above. (There will be no HBB on this definition, unless there is something truly wrong and/or grossly unclear.) There may be any number/amount of whitespace characters (' ', '\n', or '\t'), before/after any of the elements.
    3. Return true if a properly formed list was found.  *a_pos should be set to the next character in the input string, after the list that was just parsed.
      1. Ex: parse_list(…) should return true for [], [1,2], [1,"A"], [1,[2]], and [1]A.
    4. Return false if a list was not found (i.e., syntax error in the input string).  *a_pos should refer to the unexpected character that indicated a problem.
      1. Ex: parse_list(…) should return false for A[], [1,,2], [[, 1,2, and ,2].
    5. parse_list(…) should ignore any trailing characters that come after the closing square bracket.
    parse element(Element✶ a element, char const✶✶ a pos)
    return type: bool
    1. First, eat any whitespace at *a_pos.
      1. “Eat whitespace” just means to skip over any whitespace characters (i.e., increment *a_pos until isspace(**a_pos)==false).
    2. Next, decide what kind of element this is.
      1. If it's a digit (isdigit(**a_pos)) or hyphen ('-'), set the element's type to ELEMENT_INT and call parse int(&(a element -> as int), a pos).
      2. If it's a string (**a_pos=='"'), then set the element's type to ELEMENT_STRING and call parse string(&(a element -> as string), a pos).
      3. If it's a list (**a_pos == '['), then set the element's type to ELEMENT_LIST and call: parse list(&(a element -> as list), a pos).
    3. Return whatever was returned by parse_int(…) parse_string(…) or parse_list(…).
      • If none of those functions was called—i.e., if the next character was neither digit, '-', '"', nor '['—then return false.
    4. Do not modify *a_pos directly in parse_element(…), except for eating whitespace.
      • *a_pos can—and should—be modified in parse_int(…) and parse_string(…) and and parse_list(…)
    5. Caller is responsible for freeing memory by calling free_element(…) whenever parse_element(…) returns true.
    6. Whenever parse_element(…) returns false, do not modify *element , and free any heap memory that was allocated prior to discovery of the error.
    parse json(char const✶ json)
    return type: ParseResult
    Given a JSON string, parse it and return a ParseResult object.
    1. If parsing succeeds—i.e., the string is a valid JSON representation of any JSON object, such as an integer, string, or list—then the .is_success field of the ParseResult object should be true and the .element field (of the anonymous union) should contain the Element object, as returned by parse_element(…).
      • Calling parse_json("768336"); should return a ParseResult object equivalent to this compound literal:
        (ParseResult) { .is_success = true, .element = (Element) { .type = ELEMENT_INT, .as_int = 768336 } }
    2. If parsing fails, then the .is_success field of the ParseResult object should be false and the .error_idx field (of the anonymous union) should contain the index into json of the first character that indicated a parse failure.
      • Example: Calling parse_json("768336X"); should return a ParseResult object equivalent to this compound literal:
        (ParseResult) { .is_success = false, .error_idx = 6 }
      • Example: Calling parse_json("X768336"); should return a ParseResult object equivalent to this compound literal:
        (ParseResult) { .is_success = false, .error_idx = 0 }
    3. Ignore leading or trailing whitespace.
      • Example: Parsing 768336, 768336 , or 768336 should return an equivalent result with .is_success == true and .element.as_int == 768336.
    4. Hint: parse_json(…) should not need to do anything special for each type (i.e., int, string, list); if it works for one, it should work with the others with no modification. parse_json(…) is just a wrapper for parse_element(…) that gives you a more usable, understandable result.
    5. parse_json(…) should NOT ignore any non-whitespace trailing characters that come after the JSON object.
      • Example: Parsing X768336, 768336X, 768336 X, or X 768336 X should result in a ParseResult object with .is_success == false and .error_idx equal to the index of the first X character (i.e., 0, 6, 7, or 1, respectively).
      • This is different from parse_int(…), parse_string(…), parse_list(…), and parse_element(…).
    print element(Element element)
    return type: void
    Given an Element object, print it in JSON notation.
    1. Spacing is up to you, as long as it is valid JSON.
    2. If element is an integer, print it using printf(…).
    3. If element is a string, then print it (with double-quotes) using printf(…).
    4. If element is a list, print a '['. Then print each element in the list using print_element(…) (recursively), separated by commas. Finally, print ']'.
    free element(Element element)
    return type: void
    Free the contents of the Element, as needed.
    1. If it contains a string, free the string.
    2. If it contains a linked list, free the list, including all elements.
    3. Do not attempt to free the Element object itself. free_element(element) only frees dynamic memory that element refers to.
    json.h header
    ParseResult
    Add a definition for a struct type called ParseResult as needed to work with parse_json(…). Leave everything else in the header file as is.
    test_json.c functions
    main(int argc, char✶ argv[])
    return type: int
    Test your all of the above functions using your miniunit.h..
    • This should consist primarily of calls to mu_run(_test_▒▒▒).
    • 100% code coverage is required.
    • Your main(…) must return EXIT_SUCCESS.
  2. parse_int(…), parse_string(…), parse_list(…), and parse_element(…) should ignore any trailing characters in the input string, as long as it starts with a well-formed JSON element.
    • Acceptable: 123AAA, "12"AAA, "12",[,
  3. You only need to support the specific features of JSON that are explicitly required in this assignment description. You do not need to support unicode (e.g., "萬國碼", "يونيكود", "യൂണികോഡ്"), objects/dictionaries (e.g., {"a":1, "b":2}), backslash escapes (e.g., "\n"), embedded quotes (e.g., "He said, \"Roar!\""), floating point numbers (e.g., 3.1415), non-decimal notations (e.g., 0xdeadbeef, 0600), null, false)
  4. Do not modify json.h except as explicitly directed.
  5. There may be no memory faults (e.g., leaks, invalid read/write, etc.), even when parse_▒▒▒(…) return false.
  6. The following external header files, functions, and symbols are allowed.
    header functions/symbols allowed in…
    stdbool.h bool, true, false json.c, test_json.c
    stdio.h printf, fprintf, fputs, stdout, fflush json.c, test_json.c
    assert.h assert json.c, test_json.c
    ctype.h isdigit, isspace json.c, test_json.c
    stdlib.h EXIT_SUCCESS, abs, malloc, free, size_t json.c, test_json.c
    string.h strncpy, strchr, strlen, strcmp json.c, test_json.c
    limits.h INT_MIN, INT_MAX json.c, test_json.c
    miniunit.h anything test_json.c
    log_macros.h anything json.c, test_json.c
    For miniunit.h and log_macros.h, you can use anything from HW05. You are welcome to change them to your liking, and/or add more in the same spirit. All others are prohibited unless approved by the instructor. Feel free to ask if there is something you would like to use.
  7. Submissions must meet the code quality standards and the course policies on homework and academic integrity.

Submit

To submit HW13 from within your hw13 directory, type 264submit HW13 json.c json.h test_json.c miniunit.h log_macros.h Makefile

If your code does not depend on miniunit.h or log_macros.h, those may be omitted. Makefile will not be checked, but including it may help in case we need to do any troubleshooting.

Pre-tester

The pre-tester for HW13 has been released and is ready to use.

Q&A

  1. How can I structure my tests?

    Here is a start. This assumes you have written your parse_json(…) function and ParseResult type.

    // Okay to copy/adapt, but ONLY IF YOU UNDERSTAND THIS CODE COMPLETELY.
    // ⚠ Do not copy blindly.
    
    #include <stdio.h>
    #include <stdlib.h>
    #include <string.h>
    #include "json.h"
    #include "miniunit.h"
    
    int _test_int_valid_0() {
        mu_start();
        //────────────────────
        ParseResult result = parse_json("0");
        mu_check(result.is_success);
        if(result.is_success) {
            mu_check(result.element.type == ELEMENT_INT);
            mu_check(result.element.as_int == 0);
            free_element(result.element);  // should do nothing
        }
        //────────────────────
        mu_end();
    }
    
    
    int _test_int_valid_0() {
        mu_start();
        //────────────────────
        ParseResult result = parse_json("0");
        mu_check(result.is_success);
        if(result.is_success) {
            mu_check(result.element.type == ELEMENT_INT);
            mu_check(result.element.as_int == 0);
            free_element(result.element);  // should do nothing
        }
        //────────────────────
        mu_end();
    }
    
    
    int _test_string_valid_abc() {
        mu_start();
        //────────────────────
        result = parse_json("\"abc\"");
        mu_check(result.is_success);
        if(result.is_success) {
            mu_check(result.element.type == ELEMENT_STRING);
            mu_check(strcmp(result.element.as_string, "abc") == 0);
            mu_check(strlen(result.element.as_string) == 3);
            free_element(result.element);
        }
        //────────────────────
        mu_end();
    }
    
    static int _test_list_of_ints_valid_1_2() {
        mu_start();
        //────────────────────
        ParseResult result = parse_json("[1, 2]");
        mu_check(result.is_success);
        if(result.is_success) {
            mu_check(result.element.type == ELEMENT_LIST);
            mu_check(result.element.as_list != NULL);
            mu_check(result.element.as_list -> element.as_int == 1);
            mu_check(result.element.as_list -> element.type == ELEMENT_INT);
            mu_check(result.element.as_list -> next != NULL);
            mu_check(result.element.as_list -> next -> element.type == ELEMENT_INT);
            mu_check(result.element.as_list -> next -> element.as_int == 2);
            free_element(result.element);
        }
        //────────────────────
        mu_end();
    }
    
    int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
        mu_run(_test_int_valid_0);
        mu_run(_test_string_valid_abc);
        mu_run(_test_list_of_ints_valid_1_2);
        return EXIT_SUCCESS;
    }
    
    If you do not understand this code, do not use it.

    The code above covers all parts of this assignment. If you choose to use it, you will likely need to select only the parts relevant to the part you are doing right now. In any case, that is not an adequate test on its own. You will need more. This is just to get you started.

  2. What if I don't have parse_json(…) done yet?

    Here is a simpler version without parse_json(…)

    // OK TO COPY / ADAPT this snippet---but ONLY if you understand it completely.
    // ⚠ Do not copy blindly.
    // 
    // This test is nowhere near adequate on its own.  It is provided to illustrate how to
    // use helper functions to streamline your test code.
    
    #include <stdio.h>
    #include <stdlib.h>
    #include "json.h"
    #include "miniunit.h"
    
    static int _test_parse_int_valid() {
      mu_start();
      //──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
      int   result;  // will be initialized in parse_int(…)
      char* input = "0";
      char const* pos = input;
      bool is_success = parse_int(&result, &pos);
      mu_check(is_success);   // because the input is valid
      mu_check(pos == input + 1);
      mu_check(result == 0);
      //──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
      mu_end();
    }
    
    static int _test_parse_int_invalid() {
      mu_start();
      //──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
      int   result;  // will be initialized in parse_int(…)
      char* input = "A";
      char const* pos = input;
      bool is_success = parse_int(&result, &pos);
      mu_check(!is_success);  // because the input is valid
      mu_check(pos == input); // failure should be at the first character in the input
      //──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
      mu_end();
    }
    
    int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
      mu_run(_test_parse_int_valid);
      mu_run(_test_parse_int_invalid);
      return EXIT_SUCCESS;
    }
    
  3. What should be the value of *a_pos after parse_▒▒▒(…) returns?

    _____________________________________________
    # EXAMPLE #1
    
    INPUT:
    
        123
    
    BEFORE we call parse_int(…):
    
        123
        ↑
        *a_pos
    
    RETURN value from parse_int(…):
    
        true
    
    After parse_int(…) returns:
    
        123
           ↑
           *a_pos refers to null terminator just
            after the integer literal.
    
        element.type   == ELEMENT_INT
        element.as_int == 123
    
    _____________________________________________
    # EXAMPLE #2
    
    INPUT:
    
        123ABC
    
    BEFORE we call parse_int(…):
    
        123ABC
        ↑
        *a_pos
    
    RETURN value from parse_int(…):
    
        true
    
    After parse_int(…) returns:
    
        123ABC
           ↑
           *a_pos refers to the non-digit character
            after the integer literal.
    
        element.type   == ELEMENT_INT
        element.as_int == 123
    
    _____________________________________________
    # EXAMPLE #3
    
    INPUT:
    
        -A1
    
    BEFORE we call parse_int(…):
    
        -A1
        ↑
        *a_pos
    
    RETURN value from parse_int(…):
    
        false
    
    After parse_int(…) returns:
    
        -A1
         ↑
         *a_pos refers first character that informed
          us this cannot be an integer literal.
    
        element.type   == (don't care)
        element.as_int == (don't care)
  4. What does the output of print_element(…) look like?

    It's just the inverse operation to parse_element(…).
    parse_element(…) takes JSON as input.
    print_element(…) prints JSON as output.
    If you were to parse the output of print_element(…) with parse_element(…) you should get an equivalent object.
    If you parse a JSON string and then print it again, you should get an equivalent string.
    If you're looking for concrete examples, just look at any example of input to parse_element(…) (except for the trailing characters). There are several at the top of this assignment description page.
  5. The specification says we don't have to handle escape sequences, but then it mentions escape sequences. Do we parse escape sequences or don't we? How do we handle backslash?

    We use C escape codes to make C string literals containing certain characters (e.g., double-quote, newline, etc.) in our C code.
    You don't have to parse JSON escape codes. Unless you are doing the escape sequence bonus, just treat a backslash like any other character.
    Here's an example to illustrate the distinction:
    #include <stdlib.h>
    #include <assert.h>
    #include <string.h>
    #include <stdio.h>
    #include "json.h"
    
    int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
        Element element;   // 'element' will be initialized inside parse_element(…)
    
        // C escape codes used to create a C string literal containing double quotes
        char* json_input = "\"A\""; // same as: {'\"', 'A', '\"'}
        char const* pos = json_input;
        assert(strlen(json_input) == 3);
        parse_element(&element, &pos);
        printf(">>>|%s|<<<\n", element.as_string);
        // Output:
        // >>>|A|<<<
    
        // JSON escape codes
        json_input = "\"A\\nB\"";  // same as: {'\"', 'A', '\\', 'n', 'B', '\"'}
        assert(strlen(json_input) == 5);
        pos  = json_input;
        parse_element(&element, &pos);
        printf(">>>|%s|<<<\n", element.as_string);
        // Output:
        // >>>|A\nB|<<<
    
        // Output: (with escape code bonus)
        // >>>|A
        // B|<<<
    
        // Note: strlen(…) does not count the null terminator
    
        return EXIT_SUCCESS;
    }
    
  6. Should the double quotes be stored in memory?

    No. The double quotes are part of the JSON syntax.
    This is just like how in C, when you define a string like this:
    char s[] = "abc";
    
    … the double quotes are not stored in memory.

Updates

10/30/2022
  • “clog.h”“log_macros.h”
  • Updated Q&A test samples.