python - 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 marked in the input string by starting with '(' and ending with ')'.

Thus, the function would act like this:

1) foo("abc") == ["a", "b", "c"]
2) foo("a(b)c") == ["a", ["b"], "c"]
3) foo("a(b(c))") == ["a", ["b", ["c"]]]
4) foo("a(b(c)") == error: closing bracket is missing
5) foo("a(b))c") == error: opening bracket is missing
6) foo("a)b(c") == error: opening bracket is missing

Note: I'd prefer a solution that's purely functional.

Answer 1

def foo(s):
    def foo_helper(level=0):
        try:
            token = next(tokens)
        except StopIteration:
            if level != 0:
                raise Exception('missing closing paren')
            else:
                return []
        if token == ')':
            if level == 0:
                raise Exception('missing opening paren')
            else:
                return []
        elif token == '(':
            return [foo_helper(level+1)] + foo_helper(level)
        else:
            return [token] + foo_helper(level)
    tokens = iter(s)
    return foo_helper()

And,

>>> foo('a((b(c))d)(e)')
['a', [['b', ['c']], 'd'], ['e']]