Pharo String Interpolation

This package contains a compiler extension to add string interpolation to Pharo

String Interpolation Examples

Interpolated Strings are literal strings that contain expressions, which are replaced by the results of those expressions. String interpolation provides a readable way to compose strings out of expressions.

The following table contains examples of such strings:

String	Value
'Constant 1 is {1}'	'Constant 1 is 1'
'Result of 1+2 is {1+2}'	'Result of 1+2 is 3'
'Arbitrary expressions can be used as of {Date new}'	'Arbitrary expressions can be used as of 11 February 2019'

Any expression valid within the context of the string is a valid interpolated expression. This includes access to temporary variables, arguments, instance variables and so on...

Activating String Interpolation

String interpolation is available as a compiler plugin that you may activate per class by redefining the compiler method:

MyClass class >> compiler
	^super compiler addPlugin: StringInterpolationPlugin

From that moment on, you can use interpolated strings on any instance side method.

Questions and Next Steps

• How can I escape the {} characters in my string? You can escape them with the \ character. E.g., \{
• Can I use these and the format: methods on String? Right now they are not compatible, since they use the same syntax.
• Next Step: Get other tools aware of the interpolation transformation (syntax highlighter, critics...)
• Next Step: making string interpolation available for global scopes (such as class sides, playgrounds...)