syntax: syntax tree is trashed once no more needed

[nit.git] / src / syntax / syntax_base.nit

diff --git a/src/syntax/syntax_base.nit b/src/syntax/syntax_base.nit
index b34d364..172092a 100644 (file)
--- a/src/syntax/syntax_base.nit
+++ b/src/syntax/syntax_base.nit
@@ -24,8 +24,13 @@ import mmloader
 class MMSrcModule
 special MMModule
        # A source module can locate AST nodes of related MM entities
+       # Once a source module AST is no more needed, _nodes is set to null
+       # See ToolContext::keep_ast property in syntax.nit for details
        var _nodes: nullable HashMap[Object, nullable PNode] = new HashMap[Object, nullable PNode]
 
+       # Release the AST
+       fun clear_ast do _nodes = null
+
        # The related AST node
        fun node: AModule do return nodes(self).as(AModule)