Experimental Language Features

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Compound Assignment

score = 0
score += 10
score -= 3
score *= 2
score /= 7
DebugLog score   ; 2

mask = 255
mask &= 15
DebugLog mask   ; 15

Shorthand for x = x + 1, etc. Works on variables, fields, and array/vector elements.

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Do / Loop

n = 0
Do
	n += 1
	DebugLog n
Loop While n < 5

Runs the body first, then checks the condition. Loop Until works the same way but stops when the condition becomes true instead of false.

n = 10
Do
	n -= 1
Loop Until n = 0

Do with no condition loops forever until an Exit.

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With / End With

Type Player
	Field hp%
	Field name$
End Type

p.Player = New Player
With p
	.hp = 100
	.name = "Hero"
	DebugLog .name + " has " + .hp + " hp"   ; Hero has 100 hp
End With

Inside the block, .field resolves against p without you having to repeat the variable name.

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Is / IsNot

If enemy Is Null Then DebugLog "no enemy"
If target IsNot player Then DebugLog "not the player"

Aliases for = and <>.

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Case Else

Select score
	Case 100
		DebugLog "perfect"
	Case Else
		DebugLog "keep trying"
End Select

Alias for Default inside a Select block.

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Line Continuation

total = 1 + 2 + _
        3 + 4
DebugLog total   ; 10

A trailing underscore joins a line with the next one before parsing.

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Extended Identifiers

Local don't_panic% = 1
DebugLog don't_panic%   ; 1

Identifiers can contain an apostrophe.

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Function Pointers

Function OnClick(x%, y%)
	DebugLog "Clicked at " + x% + "," + y%
End Function

Global handler%(Int, Int) = %OnClick
handler(10, 20)   ; Clicked at 10,20

%FuncName gives you a typed pointer to a function. A variable, field, or parameter can hold one by tagging it with a return type sigil (%, #, $, or @) followed by the parameter types in parentheses, e.g. %(Int, Int), #(Float), or %().

Function ForEachItem(callback%(Int))
	For i = 0 To 4
		callback(i)
	Next
End Function

Function PrintItem(n%)
	DebugLog n%
End Function

ForEachItem(%PrintItem)   ; 0 1 2 3 4

Pass one in as a parameter for callbacks and dispatch tables, instead of a giant Select/Case on an int id.

Parameter types have to match the target function exactly, return type included, or it's a compile error. An untagged parameter defaults to Int. A function pointer can also live in a plain Int or Pointer (@), useful for storing one in an array. %FuncName won't work on an overloaded function name so give it something unique instead.