[Jython-dev] Creating outlines from Python source code (necessary for a Python-aware editor)

[<tor...@t-...>]

I'm working on a Python-aware editor in Java (plugin for Eclipse).

Can anybody give me a hint how to create an outline of a Python source 
via 
Jython in an efficient manner? Efficient means: the outline is 
recalculated 
every time the source code within the editor is changed.

Currently I'm only aware of the following "brute-force" approach:

1. creation of an abstract syntax tree via the parser facade
     org.python.core.parser.parse(..., "exec", ...)

2. walking through the whole AST by visiting EVERY node via a 
specialization of 
     org.python.parser.Vistor
   This specialized visitor simply visits ALL childrens of a node. But 
only 
   some special Python elements (class defs, func defs and imports) are 
handled. 

Is there an "optimized" way through the AST where only these special 
nodes 
(class defs, func defs and imports) are visited?

Or better, is it possible to build not the whole parse tree but a 
subset only 
including these nodes I'm interested in?

Thanx.
Torsten