diff --git a/Tools/compiler/ast.txt b/Tools/compiler/ast.txt
index 21203d2..3e2a82d 100644
--- a/Tools/compiler/ast.txt
+++ b/Tools/compiler/ast.txt
@@ -1,56 +1,64 @@
-Module: doc, node
-Stmt: nodes
-Function: name, argnames, defaults, flags, doc, code
-Lambda: argnames, defaults, flags, code
-Class: name, bases, doc, code
+# This file describes the nodes of the AST in ast.py.  The module is
+# generated by astgen.py.  
+# The descriptions use the following special notation to describe
+# properties of the children:
+#    *   this child is not a node
+#    !   this child is a sequence that contains nodes in it
+#    &   this child may be set to None
+#  = ... a default value for the node constructor (optional args)
+Module: doc*, node
+Stmt: nodes!
+Function: name*, argnames*, defaults!, flags*, doc*, code
+Lambda: argnames*, defaults!, flags*, code
+Class: name*, bases!, doc*, code
 Pass: 
 Break: 
 Continue: 
-For: assign, list, body, else_
-While: test, body, else_
-If: tests, else_
-Exec: expr, locals, globals
-From: modname, names
-Import: names
-Raise: expr1, expr2, expr3
+For: assign, list, body, else_&
+While: test, body, else_&
+If: tests!, else_&
+Exec: expr, locals&, globals&
+From: modname*, names*
+Import: names*
+Raise: expr1&, expr2&, expr3&
 TryFinally: body, final
-TryExcept: body, handlers, else_
+TryExcept: body, handlers!, else_&
 Return: value
 Yield: value
-Const: value
-Print: nodes, dest
-Printnl: nodes, dest
+Const: value*
+Print: nodes!, dest&
+Printnl: nodes!, dest&
 Discard: expr
-AugAssign: node, op, expr
-Assign: nodes, expr
-AssTuple: nodes
-AssList: nodes
-AssName: name, flags
-AssAttr: expr, attrname, flags
-ListComp: expr, quals
-ListCompFor: assign, list, ifs
+AugAssign: node, op*, expr
+Assign: nodes!, expr
+AssTuple: nodes!
+AssList: nodes!
+AssName: name*, flags*
+AssAttr: expr, attrname*, flags*
+ListComp: expr, quals!
+ListCompFor: assign, list, ifs!
 ListCompIf: test
-List: nodes
-Dict: items
+List: nodes!
+Dict: items!
 Not: expr
-Compare: expr, ops
-Name: name
+Compare: expr, ops!
+Name: name*
 Global: names
 Backquote: expr
-Getattr: expr, attrname
-CallFunc: node, args, star_args = None, dstar_args = None
-Keyword: name, expr
-Subscript: expr, flags, subs
+Getattr: expr, attrname*
+CallFunc: node, args!, star_args& = None, dstar_args& = None
+Keyword: name*, expr
+Subscript: expr, flags*, subs!
 Ellipsis: 
-Sliceobj: nodes
-Slice: expr, flags, lower, upper
-Assert: test, fail
-Tuple: nodes
-Or: nodes
-And: nodes
-Bitor: nodes
-Bitxor: nodes
-Bitand: nodes
+Sliceobj: nodes!
+Slice: expr, flags*, lower&, upper&
+Assert: test, fail&
+Tuple: nodes!
+Or: nodes!
+And: nodes!
+Bitor: nodes!
+Bitxor: nodes!
+Bitand: nodes!
 LeftShift: (left, right)
 RightShift: (left, right)
 Add: (left, right)
@@ -59,6 +67,7 @@
 Div: (left, right)
 Mod: (left, right)
 Power: (left, right)
+FloorDiv: (left, right)
 UnaryAdd: expr
 UnarySub: expr
 Invert: expr
diff --git a/Tools/compiler/astgen.py b/Tools/compiler/astgen.py
index c0eb464..245eebd 100644
--- a/Tools/compiler/astgen.py
+++ b/Tools/compiler/astgen.py
@@ -1,4 +1,11 @@
-"""Generate ast module from specification"""
+"""Generate ast module from specification
+
+This script generates the ast module from a simple specification,
+which makes it easy to accomodate changes in the grammar.  This
+approach would be quite reasonable if the grammar changed often.
+Instead, it is rather complex to generate the appropriate code.  And
+the Node interface has changed more often than the grammar.
+"""
 
 import fileinput
 import getopt
@@ -24,7 +31,13 @@
     i = arg.find('=')
     if i == -1:
         return arg
-    return arg[:i].strip()
+    t = arg[:i].strip()
+    return t
+
+P_NODE = 1
+P_OTHER = 2
+P_NESTED = 3
+P_NONE = 4
 
 class NodeInfo:
     """Each instance describes a specific AST node"""
@@ -32,9 +45,8 @@
         self.name = name
         self.args = args.strip()
         self.argnames = self.get_argnames()
+        self.argprops = self.get_argprops()
         self.nargs = len(self.argnames)
-        self.children = COMMA.join(["self.%s" % c
-                                    for c in self.argnames])
         self.init = []
 
     def get_argnames(self):
@@ -47,12 +59,48 @@
         return [strip_default(arg.strip())
                 for arg in args.split(',') if arg]
 
+    def get_argprops(self):
+        """Each argument can have a property like '*' or '!'
+
+        XXX This method modifies the argnames in place!
+        """
+        d = {}
+        hardest_arg = P_NODE
+        for i in range(len(self.argnames)):
+            arg = self.argnames[i]
+            if arg.endswith('*'):
+                arg = self.argnames[i] = arg[:-1]
+                d[arg] = P_OTHER
+                hardest_arg = P_OTHER
+            elif arg.endswith('!'):
+                arg = self.argnames[i] = arg[:-1]
+                d[arg] = P_NESTED
+                hardest_arg = P_NESTED
+            elif arg.endswith('&'):
+                arg = self.argnames[i] = arg[:-1]
+                d[arg] = P_NONE
+                hardest_arg = P_NONE
+            else:
+                d[arg] = P_NODE
+        self.hardest_arg = hardest_arg
+
+        if hardest_arg > P_NODE:
+            self.args = self.args.replace('*', '')
+            self.args = self.args.replace('!', '')
+            self.args = self.args.replace('&', '')
+        
+        return d
+
     def gen_source(self):
         buf = StringIO()
         print >> buf, "class %s(Node):" % self.name
         print >> buf, '    nodes["%s"] = "%s"' % (self.name.lower(), self.name)
         self._gen_init(buf)
+        print >> buf
         self._gen_getChildren(buf)
+        print >> buf
+        self._gen_getChildNodes(buf)
+        print >> buf
         self._gen_repr(buf)
         buf.seek(0, 0)
         return buf.read()
@@ -68,14 +116,57 @@
             print >> buf, "".join(["    " + line for line in self.init])
 
     def _gen_getChildren(self, buf):
-        print >> buf, "    def _getChildren(self):"
-        if self.argnames:
-            if self.nargs == 1:
-                print >> buf, "        return %s," % self.children
-            else:
-                print >> buf, "        return %s" % self.children
-        else:
+        print >> buf, "    def getChildren(self):"
+        if len(self.argnames) == 0:
             print >> buf, "        return ()"
+        else:
+            if self.hardest_arg < P_NESTED:
+                clist = COMMA.join(["self.%s" % c
+                                    for c in self.argnames])
+                if self.nargs == 1:
+                    print >> buf, "        return %s," % clist
+                else:
+                    print >> buf, "        return %s" % clist
+            else:
+                print >> buf, "        children = []"
+                template = "        children.%s(%sself.%s%s)"
+                for name in self.argnames:
+                    if self.argprops[name] == P_NESTED:
+                        print >> buf, template % ("extend", "flatten(",
+                                                  name, ")")
+                    else:
+                        print >> buf, template % ("append", "", name, "")
+                print >> buf, "        return tuple(children)"
+
+    def _gen_getChildNodes(self, buf):
+        print >> buf, "    def getChildNodes(self):"
+        if len(self.argnames) == 0:
+            print >> buf, "        return ()"
+        else:
+            if self.hardest_arg < P_NESTED:
+                clist = ["self.%s" % c
+                         for c in self.argnames
+                         if self.argprops[c] == P_NODE]
+                if len(clist) == 0:
+                    print >> buf, "        return ()"
+                elif len(clist) == 1:
+                    print >> buf, "        return %s," % clist[0]
+                else:
+                    print >> buf, "        return %s" % COMMA.join(clist)
+            else:
+                print >> buf, "        nodes = []"
+                template = "        nodes.%s(%sself.%s%s)"
+                for name in self.argnames:
+                    if self.argprops[name] == P_NONE:
+                        tmp = ("        if self.%s is not None:" 
+                               "            nodes.append(self.%s)")
+                        print >> buf, tmp % (name, name)
+                    elif self.argprops[name] == P_NESTED:
+                        print >> buf, template % ("extend", "flatten_nodes(",
+                                                  name, ")")
+                    elif self.argprops[name] == P_NODE:
+                        print >> buf, template % ("append", "", name, "")
+                print >> buf, "        return tuple(nodes)"
 
     def _gen_repr(self, buf):
         print >> buf, "    def __repr__(self):"
@@ -98,6 +189,8 @@
     classes = {}
     cur = None
     for line in fileinput.input(file):
+        if line.strip().startswith('#'):
+            continue
         mo = rx_init.search(line)
         if mo is None:
             if cur is None:
@@ -149,6 +242,9 @@
             l.append(elt)
     return l
 
+def flatten_nodes(list):
+    return [n for n in flatten(list) if isinstance(n, Node)]
+
 def asList(nodes):
     l = []
     for item in nodes:
@@ -164,21 +260,19 @@
 
 nodes = {}
 
-class Node:
-    lineno = None
+class Node: # an abstract base class
+    lineno = None # provide a lineno for nodes that don't have one
     def getType(self):
-        pass
+        pass # implemented by subclass
     def getChildren(self):
-        # XXX It would be better to generate flat values to begin with
-        return flatten(self._getChildren())
+        pass # implemented by subclasses
     def asList(self):
         return tuple(asList(self.getChildren()))
     def getChildNodes(self):
-        return [n for n in self.getChildren() if isinstance(n, Node)]
+        pass # implemented by subclasses
 
 class EmptyNode(Node):
-    def __init__(self):
-        self.lineno = None
+    pass
 
 ### EPILOGUE
 klasses = globals()
diff --git a/Tools/compiler/compiler/ast.py b/Tools/compiler/compiler/ast.py
index a160d29..e5183fa 100644
--- a/Tools/compiler/compiler/ast.py
+++ b/Tools/compiler/compiler/ast.py
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@
             l.append(elt)
     return l
 
+def flatten_nodes(list):
+    return [n for n in flatten(list) if isinstance(n, Node)]
+
 def asList(nodes):
     l = []
     for item in nodes:
@@ -31,29 +34,38 @@
 
 nodes = {}
 
-class Node:
-    lineno = None
+class Node: # an abstract base class
+    lineno = None # provide a lineno for nodes that don't have one
     def getType(self):
-        pass
+        pass # implemented by subclass
     def getChildren(self):
-        # XXX It would be better to generate flat values to begin with
-        return flatten(self._getChildren())
+        pass # implemented by subclasses
     def asList(self):
         return tuple(asList(self.getChildren()))
     def getChildNodes(self):
-        return [n for n in self.getChildren() if isinstance(n, Node)]
+        pass # implemented by subclasses
 
 class EmptyNode(Node):
-    def __init__(self):
-        self.lineno = None
+    pass
 
 class If(Node):
     nodes["if"] = "If"
     def __init__(self, tests, else_):
         self.tests = tests
         self.else_ = else_
-    def _getChildren(self):
-        return self.tests, self.else_
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        children = []
+        children.extend(flatten(self.tests))
+        children.append(self.else_)
+        return tuple(children)
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        nodes = []
+        nodes.extend(flatten_nodes(self.tests))
+        if self.else_ is not None:            nodes.append(self.else_)
+        return tuple(nodes)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "If(%s, %s)" % (repr(self.tests), repr(self.else_))
 
@@ -62,8 +74,19 @@
     def __init__(self, expr, quals):
         self.expr = expr
         self.quals = quals
-    def _getChildren(self):
-        return self.expr, self.quals
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        children = []
+        children.append(self.expr)
+        children.extend(flatten(self.quals))
+        return tuple(children)
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        nodes = []
+        nodes.append(self.expr)
+        nodes.extend(flatten_nodes(self.quals))
+        return tuple(nodes)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "ListComp(%s, %s)" % (repr(self.expr), repr(self.quals))
 
@@ -71,8 +94,17 @@
     nodes["bitor"] = "Bitor"
     def __init__(self, nodes):
         self.nodes = nodes
-    def _getChildren(self):
-        return self.nodes,
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        children = []
+        children.extend(flatten(self.nodes))
+        return tuple(children)
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        nodes = []
+        nodes.extend(flatten_nodes(self.nodes))
+        return tuple(nodes)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Bitor(%s)" % (repr(self.nodes),)
 
@@ -80,8 +112,13 @@
     nodes["pass"] = "Pass"
     def __init__(self, ):
         pass
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return ()
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return ()
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Pass()"
 
@@ -90,8 +127,13 @@
     def __init__(self, doc, node):
         self.doc = doc
         self.node = node
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.doc, self.node
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return self.node,
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Module(%s, %s)" % (repr(self.doc), repr(self.node))
 
@@ -99,8 +141,13 @@
     nodes["global"] = "Global"
     def __init__(self, names):
         self.names = names
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.names,
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return self.names,
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Global(%s)" % (repr(self.names),)
 
@@ -111,8 +158,23 @@
         self.args = args
         self.star_args = star_args
         self.dstar_args = dstar_args
-    def _getChildren(self):
-        return self.node, self.args, self.star_args, self.dstar_args
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        children = []
+        children.append(self.node)
+        children.extend(flatten(self.args))
+        children.append(self.star_args)
+        children.append(self.dstar_args)
+        return tuple(children)
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        nodes = []
+        nodes.append(self.node)
+        nodes.extend(flatten_nodes(self.args))
+        if self.star_args is not None:            nodes.append(self.star_args)
+        if self.dstar_args is not None:            nodes.append(self.dstar_args)
+        return tuple(nodes)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "CallFunc(%s, %s, %s, %s)" % (repr(self.node), repr(self.args), repr(self.star_args), repr(self.dstar_args))
 
@@ -121,8 +183,19 @@
     def __init__(self, nodes, dest):
         self.nodes = nodes
         self.dest = dest
-    def _getChildren(self):
-        return self.nodes, self.dest
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        children = []
+        children.extend(flatten(self.nodes))
+        children.append(self.dest)
+        return tuple(children)
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        nodes = []
+        nodes.extend(flatten_nodes(self.nodes))
+        if self.dest is not None:            nodes.append(self.dest)
+        return tuple(nodes)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Printnl(%s, %s)" % (repr(self.nodes), repr(self.dest))
 
@@ -130,8 +203,17 @@
     nodes["tuple"] = "Tuple"
     def __init__(self, nodes):
         self.nodes = nodes
-    def _getChildren(self):
-        return self.nodes,
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        children = []
+        children.extend(flatten(self.nodes))
+        return tuple(children)
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        nodes = []
+        nodes.extend(flatten_nodes(self.nodes))
+        return tuple(nodes)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Tuple(%s)" % (repr(self.nodes),)
 
@@ -140,8 +222,19 @@
     def __init__(self, expr, ops):
         self.expr = expr
         self.ops = ops
-    def _getChildren(self):
-        return self.expr, self.ops
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        children = []
+        children.append(self.expr)
+        children.extend(flatten(self.ops))
+        return tuple(children)
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        nodes = []
+        nodes.append(self.expr)
+        nodes.extend(flatten_nodes(self.ops))
+        return tuple(nodes)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Compare(%s, %s)" % (repr(self.expr), repr(self.ops))
 
@@ -149,8 +242,17 @@
     nodes["and"] = "And"
     def __init__(self, nodes):
         self.nodes = nodes
-    def _getChildren(self):
-        return self.nodes,
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        children = []
+        children.extend(flatten(self.nodes))
+        return tuple(children)
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        nodes = []
+        nodes.extend(flatten_nodes(self.nodes))
+        return tuple(nodes)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "And(%s)" % (repr(self.nodes),)
 
@@ -167,8 +269,13 @@
         if flags & CO_VARKEYWORDS:
             self.kwargs = 1
 
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.argnames, self.defaults, self.flags, self.code
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return self.code,
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Lambda(%s, %s, %s, %s)" % (repr(self.argnames), repr(self.defaults), repr(self.flags), repr(self.code))
 
@@ -177,8 +284,19 @@
     def __init__(self, nodes, expr):
         self.nodes = nodes
         self.expr = expr
-    def _getChildren(self):
-        return self.nodes, self.expr
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        children = []
+        children.extend(flatten(self.nodes))
+        children.append(self.expr)
+        return tuple(children)
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        nodes = []
+        nodes.extend(flatten_nodes(self.nodes))
+        nodes.append(self.expr)
+        return tuple(nodes)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Assign(%s, %s)" % (repr(self.nodes), repr(self.expr))
 
@@ -187,8 +305,13 @@
     def __init__(self, (left, right)):
         self.left = left
         self.right = right
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.left, self.right
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return self.left, self.right
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Sub((%s, %s))" % (repr(self.left), repr(self.right))
 
@@ -196,8 +319,13 @@
     nodes["listcompif"] = "ListCompIf"
     def __init__(self, test):
         self.test = test
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.test,
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return self.test,
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "ListCompIf(%s)" % (repr(self.test),)
 
@@ -206,8 +334,13 @@
     def __init__(self, (left, right)):
         self.left = left
         self.right = right
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.left, self.right
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return self.left, self.right
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Div((%s, %s))" % (repr(self.left), repr(self.right))
 
@@ -215,8 +348,13 @@
     nodes["discard"] = "Discard"
     def __init__(self, expr):
         self.expr = expr
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.expr,
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return self.expr,
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Discard(%s)" % (repr(self.expr),)
 
@@ -224,8 +362,13 @@
     nodes["backquote"] = "Backquote"
     def __init__(self, expr):
         self.expr = expr
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.expr,
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return self.expr,
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Backquote(%s)" % (repr(self.expr),)
 
@@ -234,8 +377,13 @@
     def __init__(self, (left, right)):
         self.left = left
         self.right = right
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.left, self.right
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return self.left, self.right
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "RightShift((%s, %s))" % (repr(self.left), repr(self.right))
 
@@ -243,8 +391,13 @@
     nodes["continue"] = "Continue"
     def __init__(self, ):
         pass
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return ()
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return ()
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Continue()"
 
@@ -254,8 +407,21 @@
         self.test = test
         self.body = body
         self.else_ = else_
-    def _getChildren(self):
-        return self.test, self.body, self.else_
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        children = []
+        children.append(self.test)
+        children.append(self.body)
+        children.append(self.else_)
+        return tuple(children)
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        nodes = []
+        nodes.append(self.test)
+        nodes.append(self.body)
+        if self.else_ is not None:            nodes.append(self.else_)
+        return tuple(nodes)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "While(%s, %s, %s)" % (repr(self.test), repr(self.body), repr(self.else_))
 
@@ -264,8 +430,13 @@
     def __init__(self, name, flags):
         self.name = name
         self.flags = flags
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.name, self.flags
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return ()
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "AssName(%s, %s)" % (repr(self.name), repr(self.flags))
 
@@ -274,8 +445,13 @@
     def __init__(self, (left, right)):
         self.left = left
         self.right = right
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.left, self.right
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return self.left, self.right
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "LeftShift((%s, %s))" % (repr(self.left), repr(self.right))
 
@@ -284,8 +460,13 @@
     def __init__(self, (left, right)):
         self.left = left
         self.right = right
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.left, self.right
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return self.left, self.right
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Mul((%s, %s))" % (repr(self.left), repr(self.right))
 
@@ -293,8 +474,13 @@
     nodes["yield"] = "Yield"
     def __init__(self, value):
         self.value = value
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.value,
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return self.value,
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Yield(%s)" % (repr(self.value),)
 
@@ -302,8 +488,17 @@
     nodes["list"] = "List"
     def __init__(self, nodes):
         self.nodes = nodes
-    def _getChildren(self):
-        return self.nodes,
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        children = []
+        children.extend(flatten(self.nodes))
+        return tuple(children)
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        nodes = []
+        nodes.extend(flatten_nodes(self.nodes))
+        return tuple(nodes)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "List(%s)" % (repr(self.nodes),)
 
@@ -313,8 +508,13 @@
         self.node = node
         self.op = op
         self.expr = expr
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.node, self.op, self.expr
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return self.node, self.expr
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "AugAssign(%s, %s, %s)" % (repr(self.node), repr(self.op), repr(self.expr))
 
@@ -322,8 +522,17 @@
     nodes["or"] = "Or"
     def __init__(self, nodes):
         self.nodes = nodes
-    def _getChildren(self):
-        return self.nodes,
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        children = []
+        children.extend(flatten(self.nodes))
+        return tuple(children)
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        nodes = []
+        nodes.extend(flatten_nodes(self.nodes))
+        return tuple(nodes)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Or(%s)" % (repr(self.nodes),)
 
@@ -332,8 +541,13 @@
     def __init__(self, name, expr):
         self.name = name
         self.expr = expr
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.name, self.expr
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return self.expr,
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Keyword(%s, %s)" % (repr(self.name), repr(self.expr))
 
@@ -343,8 +557,13 @@
         self.expr = expr
         self.attrname = attrname
         self.flags = flags
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.expr, self.attrname, self.flags
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return self.expr,
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "AssAttr(%s, %s, %s)" % (repr(self.expr), repr(self.attrname), repr(self.flags))
 
@@ -352,8 +571,13 @@
     nodes["const"] = "Const"
     def __init__(self, value):
         self.value = value
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.value,
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return ()
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Const(%s)" % (repr(self.value),)
 
@@ -362,8 +586,13 @@
     def __init__(self, (left, right)):
         self.left = left
         self.right = right
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.left, self.right
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return self.left, self.right
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Mod((%s, %s))" % (repr(self.left), repr(self.right))
 
@@ -374,8 +603,13 @@
         self.bases = bases
         self.doc = doc
         self.code = code
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.name, self.bases, self.doc, self.code
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return self.code,
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Class(%s, %s, %s, %s)" % (repr(self.name), repr(self.bases), repr(self.doc), repr(self.code))
 
@@ -383,8 +617,13 @@
     nodes["not"] = "Not"
     def __init__(self, expr):
         self.expr = expr
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.expr,
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return self.expr,
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Not(%s)" % (repr(self.expr),)
 
@@ -392,8 +631,17 @@
     nodes["bitxor"] = "Bitxor"
     def __init__(self, nodes):
         self.nodes = nodes
-    def _getChildren(self):
-        return self.nodes,
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        children = []
+        children.extend(flatten(self.nodes))
+        return tuple(children)
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        nodes = []
+        nodes.extend(flatten_nodes(self.nodes))
+        return tuple(nodes)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Bitxor(%s)" % (repr(self.nodes),)
 
@@ -402,17 +650,46 @@
     def __init__(self, body, final):
         self.body = body
         self.final = final
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.body, self.final
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return self.body, self.final
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "TryFinally(%s, %s)" % (repr(self.body), repr(self.final))
 
+class FloorDiv(Node):
+    nodes["floordiv"] = "FloorDiv"
+    def __init__(self, (left, right)):
+        self.left = left
+        self.right = right
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        return self.left, self.right
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return self.left, self.right
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        return "FloorDiv((%s, %s))" % (repr(self.left), repr(self.right))
+
 class Bitand(Node):
     nodes["bitand"] = "Bitand"
     def __init__(self, nodes):
         self.nodes = nodes
-    def _getChildren(self):
-        return self.nodes,
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        children = []
+        children.extend(flatten(self.nodes))
+        return tuple(children)
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        nodes = []
+        nodes.extend(flatten_nodes(self.nodes))
+        return tuple(nodes)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Bitand(%s)" % (repr(self.nodes),)
 
@@ -420,8 +697,13 @@
     nodes["break"] = "Break"
     def __init__(self, ):
         pass
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return ()
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return ()
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Break()"
 
@@ -429,8 +711,17 @@
     nodes["stmt"] = "Stmt"
     def __init__(self, nodes):
         self.nodes = nodes
-    def _getChildren(self):
-        return self.nodes,
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        children = []
+        children.extend(flatten(self.nodes))
+        return tuple(children)
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        nodes = []
+        nodes.extend(flatten_nodes(self.nodes))
+        return tuple(nodes)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Stmt(%s)" % (repr(self.nodes),)
 
@@ -439,8 +730,19 @@
     def __init__(self, test, fail):
         self.test = test
         self.fail = fail
-    def _getChildren(self):
-        return self.test, self.fail
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        children = []
+        children.append(self.test)
+        children.append(self.fail)
+        return tuple(children)
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        nodes = []
+        nodes.append(self.test)
+        if self.fail is not None:            nodes.append(self.fail)
+        return tuple(nodes)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Assert(%s, %s)" % (repr(self.test), repr(self.fail))
 
@@ -450,8 +752,21 @@
         self.expr = expr
         self.locals = locals
         self.globals = globals
-    def _getChildren(self):
-        return self.expr, self.locals, self.globals
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        children = []
+        children.append(self.expr)
+        children.append(self.locals)
+        children.append(self.globals)
+        return tuple(children)
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        nodes = []
+        nodes.append(self.expr)
+        if self.locals is not None:            nodes.append(self.locals)
+        if self.globals is not None:            nodes.append(self.globals)
+        return tuple(nodes)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Exec(%s, %s, %s)" % (repr(self.expr), repr(self.locals), repr(self.globals))
 
@@ -460,8 +775,13 @@
     def __init__(self, (left, right)):
         self.left = left
         self.right = right
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.left, self.right
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return self.left, self.right
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Power((%s, %s))" % (repr(self.left), repr(self.right))
 
@@ -469,8 +789,13 @@
     nodes["ellipsis"] = "Ellipsis"
     def __init__(self, ):
         pass
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return ()
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return ()
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Ellipsis()"
 
@@ -478,8 +803,13 @@
     nodes["return"] = "Return"
     def __init__(self, value):
         self.value = value
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.value,
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return self.value,
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Return(%s)" % (repr(self.value),)
 
@@ -488,8 +818,13 @@
     def __init__(self, (left, right)):
         self.left = left
         self.right = right
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.left, self.right
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return self.left, self.right
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Add((%s, %s))" % (repr(self.left), repr(self.right))
 
@@ -509,8 +844,13 @@
             self.kwargs = 1
     
 
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.name, self.argnames, self.defaults, self.flags, self.doc, self.code
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return self.code,
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Function(%s, %s, %s, %s, %s, %s)" % (repr(self.name), repr(self.argnames), repr(self.defaults), repr(self.flags), repr(self.doc), repr(self.code))
 
@@ -520,8 +860,21 @@
         self.body = body
         self.handlers = handlers
         self.else_ = else_
-    def _getChildren(self):
-        return self.body, self.handlers, self.else_
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        children = []
+        children.append(self.body)
+        children.extend(flatten(self.handlers))
+        children.append(self.else_)
+        return tuple(children)
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        nodes = []
+        nodes.append(self.body)
+        nodes.extend(flatten_nodes(self.handlers))
+        if self.else_ is not None:            nodes.append(self.else_)
+        return tuple(nodes)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "TryExcept(%s, %s, %s)" % (repr(self.body), repr(self.handlers), repr(self.else_))
 
@@ -531,8 +884,20 @@
         self.expr = expr
         self.flags = flags
         self.subs = subs
-    def _getChildren(self):
-        return self.expr, self.flags, self.subs
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        children = []
+        children.append(self.expr)
+        children.append(self.flags)
+        children.extend(flatten(self.subs))
+        return tuple(children)
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        nodes = []
+        nodes.append(self.expr)
+        nodes.extend(flatten_nodes(self.subs))
+        return tuple(nodes)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Subscript(%s, %s, %s)" % (repr(self.expr), repr(self.flags), repr(self.subs))
 
@@ -540,8 +905,13 @@
     nodes["import"] = "Import"
     def __init__(self, names):
         self.names = names
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.names,
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return ()
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Import(%s)" % (repr(self.names),)
 
@@ -550,8 +920,19 @@
     def __init__(self, nodes, dest):
         self.nodes = nodes
         self.dest = dest
-    def _getChildren(self):
-        return self.nodes, self.dest
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        children = []
+        children.extend(flatten(self.nodes))
+        children.append(self.dest)
+        return tuple(children)
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        nodes = []
+        nodes.extend(flatten_nodes(self.nodes))
+        if self.dest is not None:            nodes.append(self.dest)
+        return tuple(nodes)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Print(%s, %s)" % (repr(self.nodes), repr(self.dest))
 
@@ -559,8 +940,13 @@
     nodes["unaryadd"] = "UnaryAdd"
     def __init__(self, expr):
         self.expr = expr
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.expr,
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return self.expr,
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "UnaryAdd(%s)" % (repr(self.expr),)
 
@@ -570,8 +956,21 @@
         self.assign = assign
         self.list = list
         self.ifs = ifs
-    def _getChildren(self):
-        return self.assign, self.list, self.ifs
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        children = []
+        children.append(self.assign)
+        children.append(self.list)
+        children.extend(flatten(self.ifs))
+        return tuple(children)
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        nodes = []
+        nodes.append(self.assign)
+        nodes.append(self.list)
+        nodes.extend(flatten_nodes(self.ifs))
+        return tuple(nodes)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "ListCompFor(%s, %s, %s)" % (repr(self.assign), repr(self.list), repr(self.ifs))
 
@@ -579,8 +978,17 @@
     nodes["dict"] = "Dict"
     def __init__(self, items):
         self.items = items
-    def _getChildren(self):
-        return self.items,
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        children = []
+        children.extend(flatten(self.items))
+        return tuple(children)
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        nodes = []
+        nodes.extend(flatten_nodes(self.items))
+        return tuple(nodes)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Dict(%s)" % (repr(self.items),)
 
@@ -589,8 +997,13 @@
     def __init__(self, expr, attrname):
         self.expr = expr
         self.attrname = attrname
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.expr, self.attrname
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return self.expr,
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Getattr(%s, %s)" % (repr(self.expr), repr(self.attrname))
 
@@ -598,8 +1011,17 @@
     nodes["asslist"] = "AssList"
     def __init__(self, nodes):
         self.nodes = nodes
-    def _getChildren(self):
-        return self.nodes,
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        children = []
+        children.extend(flatten(self.nodes))
+        return tuple(children)
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        nodes = []
+        nodes.extend(flatten_nodes(self.nodes))
+        return tuple(nodes)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "AssList(%s)" % (repr(self.nodes),)
 
@@ -607,8 +1029,13 @@
     nodes["unarysub"] = "UnarySub"
     def __init__(self, expr):
         self.expr = expr
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.expr,
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return self.expr,
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "UnarySub(%s)" % (repr(self.expr),)
 
@@ -616,8 +1043,17 @@
     nodes["sliceobj"] = "Sliceobj"
     def __init__(self, nodes):
         self.nodes = nodes
-    def _getChildren(self):
-        return self.nodes,
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        children = []
+        children.extend(flatten(self.nodes))
+        return tuple(children)
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        nodes = []
+        nodes.extend(flatten_nodes(self.nodes))
+        return tuple(nodes)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Sliceobj(%s)" % (repr(self.nodes),)
 
@@ -625,8 +1061,13 @@
     nodes["invert"] = "Invert"
     def __init__(self, expr):
         self.expr = expr
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.expr,
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return self.expr,
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Invert(%s)" % (repr(self.expr),)
 
@@ -634,8 +1075,13 @@
     nodes["name"] = "Name"
     def __init__(self, name):
         self.name = name
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.name,
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return ()
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Name(%s)" % (repr(self.name),)
 
@@ -643,8 +1089,17 @@
     nodes["asstuple"] = "AssTuple"
     def __init__(self, nodes):
         self.nodes = nodes
-    def _getChildren(self):
-        return self.nodes,
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        children = []
+        children.extend(flatten(self.nodes))
+        return tuple(children)
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        nodes = []
+        nodes.extend(flatten_nodes(self.nodes))
+        return tuple(nodes)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "AssTuple(%s)" % (repr(self.nodes),)
 
@@ -655,8 +1110,23 @@
         self.list = list
         self.body = body
         self.else_ = else_
-    def _getChildren(self):
-        return self.assign, self.list, self.body, self.else_
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        children = []
+        children.append(self.assign)
+        children.append(self.list)
+        children.append(self.body)
+        children.append(self.else_)
+        return tuple(children)
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        nodes = []
+        nodes.append(self.assign)
+        nodes.append(self.list)
+        nodes.append(self.body)
+        if self.else_ is not None:            nodes.append(self.else_)
+        return tuple(nodes)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "For(%s, %s, %s, %s)" % (repr(self.assign), repr(self.list), repr(self.body), repr(self.else_))
 
@@ -666,8 +1136,21 @@
         self.expr1 = expr1
         self.expr2 = expr2
         self.expr3 = expr3
-    def _getChildren(self):
-        return self.expr1, self.expr2, self.expr3
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        children = []
+        children.append(self.expr1)
+        children.append(self.expr2)
+        children.append(self.expr3)
+        return tuple(children)
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        nodes = []
+        if self.expr1 is not None:            nodes.append(self.expr1)
+        if self.expr2 is not None:            nodes.append(self.expr2)
+        if self.expr3 is not None:            nodes.append(self.expr3)
+        return tuple(nodes)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Raise(%s, %s, %s)" % (repr(self.expr1), repr(self.expr2), repr(self.expr3))
 
@@ -676,8 +1159,13 @@
     def __init__(self, modname, names):
         self.modname = modname
         self.names = names
-    def _getChildren(self):
+
+    def getChildren(self):
         return self.modname, self.names
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        return ()
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "From(%s, %s)" % (repr(self.modname), repr(self.names))
 
@@ -688,8 +1176,22 @@
         self.flags = flags
         self.lower = lower
         self.upper = upper
-    def _getChildren(self):
-        return self.expr, self.flags, self.lower, self.upper
+
+    def getChildren(self):
+        children = []
+        children.append(self.expr)
+        children.append(self.flags)
+        children.append(self.lower)
+        children.append(self.upper)
+        return tuple(children)
+
+    def getChildNodes(self):
+        nodes = []
+        nodes.append(self.expr)
+        if self.lower is not None:            nodes.append(self.lower)
+        if self.upper is not None:            nodes.append(self.upper)
+        return tuple(nodes)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Slice(%s, %s, %s, %s)" % (repr(self.expr), repr(self.flags), repr(self.lower), repr(self.upper))
 
diff --git a/Tools/compiler/compiler/ast.txt b/Tools/compiler/compiler/ast.txt
index 21203d2..3e2a82d 100644
--- a/Tools/compiler/compiler/ast.txt
+++ b/Tools/compiler/compiler/ast.txt
@@ -1,56 +1,64 @@
-Module: doc, node
-Stmt: nodes
-Function: name, argnames, defaults, flags, doc, code
-Lambda: argnames, defaults, flags, code
-Class: name, bases, doc, code
+# This file describes the nodes of the AST in ast.py.  The module is
+# generated by astgen.py.  
+# The descriptions use the following special notation to describe
+# properties of the children:
+#    *   this child is not a node
+#    !   this child is a sequence that contains nodes in it
+#    &   this child may be set to None
+#  = ... a default value for the node constructor (optional args)
+Module: doc*, node
+Stmt: nodes!
+Function: name*, argnames*, defaults!, flags*, doc*, code
+Lambda: argnames*, defaults!, flags*, code
+Class: name*, bases!, doc*, code
 Pass: 
 Break: 
 Continue: 
-For: assign, list, body, else_
-While: test, body, else_
-If: tests, else_
-Exec: expr, locals, globals
-From: modname, names
-Import: names
-Raise: expr1, expr2, expr3
+For: assign, list, body, else_&
+While: test, body, else_&
+If: tests!, else_&
+Exec: expr, locals&, globals&
+From: modname*, names*
+Import: names*
+Raise: expr1&, expr2&, expr3&
 TryFinally: body, final
-TryExcept: body, handlers, else_
+TryExcept: body, handlers!, else_&
 Return: value
 Yield: value
-Const: value
-Print: nodes, dest
-Printnl: nodes, dest
+Const: value*
+Print: nodes!, dest&
+Printnl: nodes!, dest&
 Discard: expr
-AugAssign: node, op, expr
-Assign: nodes, expr
-AssTuple: nodes
-AssList: nodes
-AssName: name, flags
-AssAttr: expr, attrname, flags
-ListComp: expr, quals
-ListCompFor: assign, list, ifs
+AugAssign: node, op*, expr
+Assign: nodes!, expr
+AssTuple: nodes!
+AssList: nodes!
+AssName: name*, flags*
+AssAttr: expr, attrname*, flags*
+ListComp: expr, quals!
+ListCompFor: assign, list, ifs!
 ListCompIf: test
-List: nodes
-Dict: items
+List: nodes!
+Dict: items!
 Not: expr
-Compare: expr, ops
-Name: name
+Compare: expr, ops!
+Name: name*
 Global: names
 Backquote: expr
-Getattr: expr, attrname
-CallFunc: node, args, star_args = None, dstar_args = None
-Keyword: name, expr
-Subscript: expr, flags, subs
+Getattr: expr, attrname*
+CallFunc: node, args!, star_args& = None, dstar_args& = None
+Keyword: name*, expr
+Subscript: expr, flags*, subs!
 Ellipsis: 
-Sliceobj: nodes
-Slice: expr, flags, lower, upper
-Assert: test, fail
-Tuple: nodes
-Or: nodes
-And: nodes
-Bitor: nodes
-Bitxor: nodes
-Bitand: nodes
+Sliceobj: nodes!
+Slice: expr, flags*, lower&, upper&
+Assert: test, fail&
+Tuple: nodes!
+Or: nodes!
+And: nodes!
+Bitor: nodes!
+Bitxor: nodes!
+Bitand: nodes!
 LeftShift: (left, right)
 RightShift: (left, right)
 Add: (left, right)
@@ -59,6 +67,7 @@
 Div: (left, right)
 Mod: (left, right)
 Power: (left, right)
+FloorDiv: (left, right)
 UnaryAdd: expr
 UnarySub: expr
 Invert: expr
diff --git a/Tools/compiler/compiler/astgen.py b/Tools/compiler/compiler/astgen.py
index c0eb464..245eebd 100644
--- a/Tools/compiler/compiler/astgen.py
+++ b/Tools/compiler/compiler/astgen.py
@@ -1,4 +1,11 @@
-"""Generate ast module from specification"""
+"""Generate ast module from specification
+
+This script generates the ast module from a simple specification,
+which makes it easy to accomodate changes in the grammar.  This
+approach would be quite reasonable if the grammar changed often.
+Instead, it is rather complex to generate the appropriate code.  And
+the Node interface has changed more often than the grammar.
+"""
 
 import fileinput
 import getopt
@@ -24,7 +31,13 @@
     i = arg.find('=')
     if i == -1:
         return arg
-    return arg[:i].strip()
+    t = arg[:i].strip()
+    return t
+
+P_NODE = 1
+P_OTHER = 2
+P_NESTED = 3
+P_NONE = 4
 
 class NodeInfo:
     """Each instance describes a specific AST node"""
@@ -32,9 +45,8 @@
         self.name = name
         self.args = args.strip()
         self.argnames = self.get_argnames()
+        self.argprops = self.get_argprops()
         self.nargs = len(self.argnames)
-        self.children = COMMA.join(["self.%s" % c
-                                    for c in self.argnames])
         self.init = []
 
     def get_argnames(self):
@@ -47,12 +59,48 @@
         return [strip_default(arg.strip())
                 for arg in args.split(',') if arg]
 
+    def get_argprops(self):
+        """Each argument can have a property like '*' or '!'
+
+        XXX This method modifies the argnames in place!
+        """
+        d = {}
+        hardest_arg = P_NODE
+        for i in range(len(self.argnames)):
+            arg = self.argnames[i]
+            if arg.endswith('*'):
+                arg = self.argnames[i] = arg[:-1]
+                d[arg] = P_OTHER
+                hardest_arg = P_OTHER
+            elif arg.endswith('!'):
+                arg = self.argnames[i] = arg[:-1]
+                d[arg] = P_NESTED
+                hardest_arg = P_NESTED
+            elif arg.endswith('&'):
+                arg = self.argnames[i] = arg[:-1]
+                d[arg] = P_NONE
+                hardest_arg = P_NONE
+            else:
+                d[arg] = P_NODE
+        self.hardest_arg = hardest_arg
+
+        if hardest_arg > P_NODE:
+            self.args = self.args.replace('*', '')
+            self.args = self.args.replace('!', '')
+            self.args = self.args.replace('&', '')
+        
+        return d
+
     def gen_source(self):
         buf = StringIO()
         print >> buf, "class %s(Node):" % self.name
         print >> buf, '    nodes["%s"] = "%s"' % (self.name.lower(), self.name)
         self._gen_init(buf)
+        print >> buf
         self._gen_getChildren(buf)
+        print >> buf
+        self._gen_getChildNodes(buf)
+        print >> buf
         self._gen_repr(buf)
         buf.seek(0, 0)
         return buf.read()
@@ -68,14 +116,57 @@
             print >> buf, "".join(["    " + line for line in self.init])
 
     def _gen_getChildren(self, buf):
-        print >> buf, "    def _getChildren(self):"
-        if self.argnames:
-            if self.nargs == 1:
-                print >> buf, "        return %s," % self.children
-            else:
-                print >> buf, "        return %s" % self.children
-        else:
+        print >> buf, "    def getChildren(self):"
+        if len(self.argnames) == 0:
             print >> buf, "        return ()"
+        else:
+            if self.hardest_arg < P_NESTED:
+                clist = COMMA.join(["self.%s" % c
+                                    for c in self.argnames])
+                if self.nargs == 1:
+                    print >> buf, "        return %s," % clist
+                else:
+                    print >> buf, "        return %s" % clist
+            else:
+                print >> buf, "        children = []"
+                template = "        children.%s(%sself.%s%s)"
+                for name in self.argnames:
+                    if self.argprops[name] == P_NESTED:
+                        print >> buf, template % ("extend", "flatten(",
+                                                  name, ")")
+                    else:
+                        print >> buf, template % ("append", "", name, "")
+                print >> buf, "        return tuple(children)"
+
+    def _gen_getChildNodes(self, buf):
+        print >> buf, "    def getChildNodes(self):"
+        if len(self.argnames) == 0:
+            print >> buf, "        return ()"
+        else:
+            if self.hardest_arg < P_NESTED:
+                clist = ["self.%s" % c
+                         for c in self.argnames
+                         if self.argprops[c] == P_NODE]
+                if len(clist) == 0:
+                    print >> buf, "        return ()"
+                elif len(clist) == 1:
+                    print >> buf, "        return %s," % clist[0]
+                else:
+                    print >> buf, "        return %s" % COMMA.join(clist)
+            else:
+                print >> buf, "        nodes = []"
+                template = "        nodes.%s(%sself.%s%s)"
+                for name in self.argnames:
+                    if self.argprops[name] == P_NONE:
+                        tmp = ("        if self.%s is not None:" 
+                               "            nodes.append(self.%s)")
+                        print >> buf, tmp % (name, name)
+                    elif self.argprops[name] == P_NESTED:
+                        print >> buf, template % ("extend", "flatten_nodes(",
+                                                  name, ")")
+                    elif self.argprops[name] == P_NODE:
+                        print >> buf, template % ("append", "", name, "")
+                print >> buf, "        return tuple(nodes)"
 
     def _gen_repr(self, buf):
         print >> buf, "    def __repr__(self):"
@@ -98,6 +189,8 @@
     classes = {}
     cur = None
     for line in fileinput.input(file):
+        if line.strip().startswith('#'):
+            continue
         mo = rx_init.search(line)
         if mo is None:
             if cur is None:
@@ -149,6 +242,9 @@
             l.append(elt)
     return l
 
+def flatten_nodes(list):
+    return [n for n in flatten(list) if isinstance(n, Node)]
+
 def asList(nodes):
     l = []
     for item in nodes:
@@ -164,21 +260,19 @@
 
 nodes = {}
 
-class Node:
-    lineno = None
+class Node: # an abstract base class
+    lineno = None # provide a lineno for nodes that don't have one
     def getType(self):
-        pass
+        pass # implemented by subclass
     def getChildren(self):
-        # XXX It would be better to generate flat values to begin with
-        return flatten(self._getChildren())
+        pass # implemented by subclasses
     def asList(self):
         return tuple(asList(self.getChildren()))
     def getChildNodes(self):
-        return [n for n in self.getChildren() if isinstance(n, Node)]
+        pass # implemented by subclasses
 
 class EmptyNode(Node):
-    def __init__(self):
-        self.lineno = None
+    pass
 
 ### EPILOGUE
 klasses = globals()