Language specification

This chapter covers the following topics:

Syntax

• Basic syntax
  • code comments
  • whitespace
  • splitting lines using |
• String literals: escape sequences, character literals

Type system

• Data types
  • primitive types: byte, pair, int, bool
  • type aliases using type
  • function pointers
• Arrays: static versus dynamic arrays, guidance for resizing arrays
• Generics: defining and using parameterized types

Execution model

• Expressions: literal values, operators, Euclidean division, function-like operators such as to_byte(x)
• Statements: assignment, function call, return, loop/drop/lift, if, the debugger break statement
• Variables: local variables, func parameters, module members, class members, view var
• Functions: module functions, class functions, assembly functions (chombit and intrinsic)

Program structure

• Modules
• Classes: member functions, inheritance, class operators (as and class_id())
• Name rules and conflicts: name scopes and qualifiers, "counterparts" such as a class and module with the same name

Memory management

• Data blocks: data blocks, labels using @, and polymorphic data
• Storage directives: located at, inset, Caret types
• Unsafe operator: performance optimizations that bypass compiler checks, with potential risks if used incorrectly