Beginner help with LALR(1) closure

I'm working on writing my own LALR(1) parser table generator and
I'm a little stuck. I'm doing this because I want to understand
the parsing process. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.


I'm using 'Compiler Design in C' [Holub]. I'm currently working
on performing LALR(1) closure on LALR(1) states. I've got 2
questions:


1. I've downloaded a few YACC-able grammars and I've noticed that
      they all have left-recusive grammars like (A) below. When I
      run this thru my generator, these cause infinite recursion.
      I can't find anything in Holub about how the LALR(1) generator
      should handle left-recursion. In order to get around the
      problem, I used a technique from a previous chapter which
      eliminates left-recursion (B) from LL grammars. I would like to
      know how the LALR(1) closure process avoids left recursion.




A //// statement-list statement
A //// statement-list statement


B //// statement-list statement statement-list-pri
B ////
B //// statement-list-pri statement statement-list-pri
B //// EPS




2. How are circular references like the following handled when
        performing LALR(1) closure?




type_specifier void
                                char
                                short
                                int
                                long
                                float
                                double
                                signed
                                unsigned
                                struct_or_union_specifier
                                enum_specifier
                                type_name


specifier_qualifier_list type_specifier specifier_qualifier_list
                                                    type_specifier
                                                    type_qualifier specifier_qualifier_list
                                                    type_qualifier


type_name specifier_qualifier_list
                      specifier_qualifier_list abstract_declarator




Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.


Kent
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