> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/tree-sitter/tree-sitter/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# generate

> Generate a parser from a grammar

The most important command for grammar development. It reads the grammar and outputs C files that can be compiled into a shared or static library.

```bash theme={null}
tree-sitter generate [OPTIONS] [GRAMMAR_PATH]
```

**Aliases:** `gen`, `g`

## Grammar Path

The optional `GRAMMAR_PATH` argument should point to the structured grammar in one of two forms:

* **`grammar.js`** - A JavaScript file (ESM or CJS). If omitted, defaults to `./grammar.js`.
* **`grammar.json`** - A structured representation created as a byproduct of `generate`. Can regenerate a missing `parser.c` without requiring a JavaScript runtime.

## Conflict Detection

If there is an ambiguity or local ambiguity in your grammar, Tree-sitter will detect it during parser generation and exit with an `Unresolved conflict` error message.

See [Structuring Rules Well](https://tree-sitter.github.io/tree-sitter/creating-parsers/writing-the-grammar#structuring-rules-well) for information on handling conflicts.

## Generated Files

### src/parser.c

Implements the parser logic specified in the grammar.

### src/tree\_sitter/parser.h

Provides basic C definitions used in the generated `parser.c` file.

### src/tree\_sitter/alloc.h

Provides memory allocation macros that can be used in an external scanner.

### src/tree\_sitter/array.h

Provides array macros that can be used in an external scanner.

### src/grammar.json

Contains a structured representation of the grammar. Can regenerate the parser without re-evaluating `grammar.js`.

### src/node-types.json

Provides type information about individual syntax nodes. See [Static Node Types](https://tree-sitter.github.io/tree-sitter/using-parsers/static-node-types).

## Options

<ParamField path="-l, --log" type="flag">
  Print the log of the parser generation process. Includes information about tokens in error recovery state, extracted keywords, state splits, and entry point state.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--abi" type="version">
  The ABI version to use for parser generation. Default is ABI 15, with ABI 14 being a supported target. Use `latest` to generate the newest supported version.

  Can also be set via `TREE_SITTER_ABI_VERSION` environment variable.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--no-parser" type="flag">
  Only generate `grammar.json` and `node-types.json` without generating the parser.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-o, --output" type="directory">
  The directory to place the generated parser in. Default is `src/` in the current directory.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--report-states-for-rule" type="rule">
  Print the overview of states from the given rule. Useful for debugging and understanding the generated parser's item sets.

  * Pass `-` to view state count numbers for all rules
  * Pass `*` to view the overview of states for every rule
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--json-summary" type="flag">
  Report conflicts in a JSON format.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--js-runtime" type="executable" default="node">
  Path to the JavaScript runtime executable to use when generating the parser.

  Can also be set via `TREE_SITTER_JS_RUNTIME` environment variable.

  Starting from version 0.26, you can pass `native` to use the experimental native QuickJS runtime bundled with the CLI. This avoids the Node.js dependency entirely.

  The native QuickJS runtime is compatible with ESM and CommonJS in strict mode. If your grammar depends on npm packages, run `npm install` before using the native runtime.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--disable-optimizations" type="flag">
  Disable optimizations when generating the parser. Currently only affects the merging of compatible parse states.
</ParamField>

## Examples

### Basic Generation

```bash theme={null}
tree-sitter generate
```

### Generate with Debug Logging

```bash theme={null}
tree-sitter generate --log
```

### Generate for Specific ABI

```bash theme={null}
tree-sitter generate --abi 14
```

### Use Native JavaScript Runtime

```bash theme={null}
tree-sitter generate --js-runtime native
```

### Generate Only Metadata

```bash theme={null}
tree-sitter generate --no-parser
```