Toy

The Toy programming language is an imperative bytecode-intermediate embedded scripting language. It isn't intended to operate on its own, but rather as part of another program, the "host". This process is intended to allow a decent amount of easy customisation by the host's end user, by exposing logic in script files. Alternatively, binary files in a custom format can be used as well.

The host will provide all of the extensions needed on a case-by-case basis. Script files have the .toy file extension, while binary files have the .tb file extension.

This is the Toy programming language interpreter, written in C.

Nifty Features

• Simple C-like syntax
• Bytecode intermediate compilation
• Optional, but robust type system (including opaque for arbitrary data)
• Functions and types are first-class citizens
• Import native libraries from the host
• Fancy slice notation for strings, arrays and dictionaries
• Can re-direct output, error and assertion failure messages
• Open source under the zlib license

Building

For Windows(mingw32 & cygwin), Linux and MacOS, simply run make in the root directory.

For Windows(MSVC), Visual Studio project files are included.

Note: MacOS and Windows(MSVC) are not officially supported, but we'll do our best!

Tools

Run make install-tools to install a number of tools, including:

• VSCode syntax highlighting

Syntax

import standard; //for a bunch of utility functions

print "Hello world"; //"print" is a keyword

var msg = "foobar"; //declare a variable like this

assert true, "This message won't be seen"; //assert is another keyword

//-------------------------

fn makeCounter() { //declare a function like this
	var total: int = 0; //declare a variable with a type like this

	fn counter(): int { //declare a return type like this
		return ++total;
	}

	return counter; //closures are explicitly supported
}

var tally = makeCounter();

print tally(); //1
print tally(); //2
print tally(); //3

License

This source code is covered by the zlib license (see LICENSE.md).

Patrons via Patreon

• Seth A. Robinson

Special thanks to http://craftinginterpreters.com/ for their fantastic book that set me on this path.