NoctLang Syntax

Assignments

Variables in NoctLang are dynamically typed and don't require explicit declaration. The assignment operator (=) is used to create and assign values to variables.

As shown in the example below, NoctLang supports various data types including integers, floating-point numbers, and strings. Variables can be reassigned to different types at any time during execution.

func main() {
    var a = 123;
    print(a);

    var b = 1.0;
    print(b);

    var c = "string";
    print(c);
}

Local Variables

Using the var keyword allows you to declare a variable as local. Without var declaration, assigning to a variable may create a global variable.

func main() {
    var a = 123;
    print(a);
}

Array

Arrays are ordered collections of values, accessed by index. Arrays support iteration through the for loop construct, allowing you to iterate through each value directly.

func main() {
    var array = [0, 1, 2];
    for (value in array) {
        print(value);
    }
}

Arrays can hold values of different types simultaneously, reflecting the dynamic typing system.

func main() {
    var array = [123, "string"];
}

The language provides a built-in function push() to add elements to the end of an array

func main() {
    var array = []
    push(array, 0);
    push(array, 1);
    push(array, 2);
}

Dictionary

Dictionaries store key-value pairs, similar to hash maps or objects in other languages. They are defined using curly braces with key-value pairs separated by colons. Dictionaries support iteration where both the key and value can be accessed simultaneously.

func main() {
    var dict = {key1: "value1", key2: "value2"};
    for (key, value in dict) {
        print("key = " + key);
        print("value = " + value);
    }

}

Dictionaries may be constructed in a single step way. An assignment can be an array style which uses [], or an object style which uses ..

func main() {
    var dict = {};
    dict["key1"] = "value1";
    dict.key2 = "value2";
}

The built-in function remove() allows for the deletion of entries by key.

func main() {
    var dict = {key1: "value1", key2: "value2"};
    remove(dict, "key1");
}

For-loop

The for-loop construct provides a concise syntax for iterating through sequences such as ranges, arrays, and dictionaries.

The range syntax (using the .. operator) creates an iterator that generates values from the start to one less than the end value.

func main() {
    for (i in 0..10) {
        print(i);
    }
}

For-loops can also iterate directly over arrays and other collection types.

Arrays can be iterated by the for-value syntax.

func main() {
    array = [0, 1, 2];
    for (value in array) {
        print(value);
    }
}

Dictionaries can be iterated by the for-key-value syntax.

func main() {
    var dict = {key1: "value1", key2: "value2"};
    for (key, value in dict) {
        print(key + "=" + value);
    }
}

While Loops

The while-loop provides a traditional iteration mechanism that continues execution as long as a specified condition remains true. Unlike for-loops which are designed for iterating over collections, while-loops are more flexible and can be used for implementing various algorithms where the number of iterations isn't known in advance. The example shows a basic counter implementation incrementing from 0 to 9.

func main() {
    var i = 0;
    while (i < 10) {
        print(i);
        i = i + 1;
    }
}

If and Else Blocks

Control flows allow for conditional executions based on evaluated expressions. The if-else construct follows a familiar syntax where conditions are evaluated in sequence.

func main() {
    var a = readint();
    if (a == 0) {
        print("0");
    } else if (a == 1) {
        print("1");
    } else {
        print("other");
    }
}

Lambda Functions

Functions are first-class objects in the language. Anonymous functions, also known as lambda expressions, allow you to create functions without names.

func main() {
    var f = (a, b) => { return a + b; }
    print(f(1, 2));
}

Lambda functions are simply translated to named functions in the compilation process. Therefore, they can't capture variables declared in outer functions.

Intrinsics

substring()

func main() {
    var s1 = "ABCDEFG";
    var s2 = s1->substring(1, -1); // from the char 1, to the end
}

length

func main() {
    var str = "ABCDEFG";
    var slen = str.length;

    var array = [0, 1, 2];
    var alen = array.length;
}

push()

func main() {
    var array = [0, 1, 2];
    array->push(3); // Add to the last.

    var elem = array->pop();
}

global

func main() {
    var cat = new_cat();
    var color = cat->getColor();
}

func new_cat() {
    return {
        // Field
        color: "orange",

        // Method
        getColor: lambda (this) => {
            return this.color;
        },
    };
}