Creation/Dev/GScript3

GScript3 is the latest version of the Graal's scripting language.
It introduces new syntax and semantic elements, and enable new features in Web browsers.

Language Elements

Operators

addition (+) operator

Usage

numeric_expression1 + numeric_expression2

Adds together numeric_expression1 and numeric_expression2.
Both expressions must be numeric (int or number types).

To concatenate strings, the append (@) operator must be used instead.

Example

echo(1 + 2); // 3
echo(1.5 + 2.25); // 3.75

addition assignment (+=) operator

Usage

numeric_expression1 += numeric_expression2

Puts the result of numeric_expression1 + numeric_expression2 into numeric_expression1.
Both expressions must be numeric (int or number types).

This is a direct equivalent of the following expression:

numeric_expression1 = numeric_expression1 + numeric_expression2

To concatenate strings, the append assignment (@=) operator must be used instead.

Example

var result : int = 10;
result += 20;
echo(result); // 30

append (@) operator

Usage

string_expression1 @ string_expression2

Concats together string_expression1 and string_expression2.
Both expressions must be string (string type).

To add numbers, the addition (+) operator must be used instead.

Example

echo("hello " @ "world"); // "hello world"

as operator

Usage

expression as target_type

Converts the source type of expression to target_type.
The target type must be an object type, not a basic type like int, number, string.
The source type must be a member of the target type.

Example

class Animal { ... }
class Cat extends Animal { ... }
class Dog extends Animal { ... }
var cat : Cat = new Cat();
var dog : Dog = new Dog();
var cat_as_animal : Animal =  cat as Animal; // OK as the Cat type is a member of the Animal type.
var cat_as_cat : Cat = cat_as_animal as Cat; // OK as the Cat type is a member of the Animal type.
var cat_as_dog : Dog = cat as Dog; // KO as the Cat type is not a member of the Dog type.
var cat_as_animal_as_dog : Dog = cat_as_animal as Dog; // null as the Cat as Animal type is not a member of the Dog type.

type (:) operator

Usage

var variable_name : type
function function_name(parameter : type, ...) : return_type { ... }

Specifies the type for a variable or function declaration.
For functions, this operator must be used to specify the return type, and the type of parameters if any.

Example

var language : string = "GScript";
var version : int = 3;

function sayHello() : void {
   echo("hello");
}

function addNumbers(a : int, b : int) : int {
   return a + b;
}

Types

boolean type

Enables to define variables, function parameters or return values with two possible values, true or false. These values represents the result of logical expressions.

Example

var graal_is_cool : boolean = true;
var is_dark : boolean = false;
var is_light : boolean = !is_dark;

int type

Enables to define variables, function parameters or return values with a 32-bit signed integer number type.

With this type, you can define integer numbers between -2,147,483,648 (-2 ^ 31) and 2,147,483,647 (2 ^ 31 - 1).
To work with floating-point numbers, or define numbers outside this range, the number type must be used instead.

Example

var integer_number : int = 123;

string type

Represents textual data using a string of characters.
A string cannot be null but may be empty (with a length of zero).

Example

var text : string = "hello";

void type

Usage

function function_name( ... ) : void { ... }

Specifies that a function does not return any value.
Only empty return statements must be used in functions with void type.

Example

function emptyFunction() : void {
}

function logMessage(message : string, hasLog : boolean) : void {
   if (!hasLog)
      return; // No returned value.
   echo(message);
}

Declaration Keywords

const keyword

Usage

const constant_name : type = constant_value;

Specifies a variable with a unique and constant value at compilation and execution time.
Constants are automatically inlined to their value by the compiler, so it is recommended for optimization purposes to prefer constants to normal variables when their value never changes.

Example

const winning_points : int = 1000;
const hello_text : string = "hello";
const world_text : string = "world";
const hello_world_text : string = hello_text @ world_text;
winning_points = 500; // KO as winning_points must be constant