How to parse a string and return a nested array?

Question

I want a Python function that takes a string, and returns an array, where each item in the array is either a character, or another array of this kind. Nested arrays are mark

Answer 1

Iterative.

def foo(xs):
    stack = [[]]
    for x in xs:
        if x == '(':
            stack[-1].append([])
            stack.append(stack[-1][-1])
        elif x == ')':
            stack.pop()
            if not stack:
                return 'error: opening bracket is missing'
                #raise ValueError('error: opening bracket is missing')
        else:
            stack[-1].append(x)
    if len(stack) > 1:
        return 'error: closing bracket is missing'
        #raise ValueError('error: closing bracket is missing')
    return stack.pop()

assert foo("abc") == ["a", "b", "c"]
assert foo("a(b)c") == ["a", ["b"], "c"]
assert foo("a(b(c))") == ["a", ["b", ["c"]]]
assert foo("a((b(c))d)(e)") == ['a', [['b', ['c']], 'd'], ['e']]
assert foo("a(b(c)") == "error: closing bracket is missing"
assert foo("a(b))c") == "error: opening bracket is missing"
assert foo("a)b(c") == 'error: opening bracket is missing'