var SE="Syntax Error";

function parse(str) { // returns integer expression result or SE
   var text=str;
   var scan=1;
   return parse_sum();

   function parse_sum() {
      var number, number2;
      if (number=parse_product()==SE) return SE;
      while (true) {
        skip_blanks();
        if (match("+") {
           number2=parse_product();
           if (number2==SE) return SE;
           number+=number2;
        }
        else if (match('-')) {
                { number2=parse_product();
                  if (number2==SE) return SE;
                  number-=number2;
                }
             else return number;
      }
   }

   function parse_product() {
      var number, number2;
      if (number=parse_number()==SE) return SE;
      while (true) {
        if (match("*") {
            number2=parse_term();
            if (number2==SE) return SE;
            number*=number2;
          }
          else if (match('/')) {
                  number2=parse_term();
                  if (number2==SE) return SE;
                  number/=number2;
               }
               else return number;
      }
   }

   function parse_term() {
      var number;
      skip_blanks();
      if (match("(")) {
         number=parse_sum();
         if (number=SE) return SE;
         skip_blanks();
         if (!match(")") return SE;
      }
      else if match("-") {
              number= - parse_term();
           }
           else if (number=parse_number()==SE) return SE;
      return number;
   }

   function skip_blanks() {
      while (match(" ")) { };
      return;
    }

    function parse_number() {
       number=0;
       if (is_digit()) {
          while (is_digit()) {}
          return number;
        }
        else return SE;
    }

    var number;
    function is_digit() { // following 2 lines are likely wrong in detail but not intent
       if (text[scan]>="0" && text[scan]<="9") {
          number=number*10+text[scan].toInt();
          return true;
       }
       else return false;
    }

   function match(c) {
       if (text[scan]==c)
          { scan++; return true }
       else return false;
    }
 }