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About

Snowscript is a language that compiles to PHP. Its syntax is inspired by Python, Lua, Coffescript, Go and Scala and strives to be DRY, clean and easy to read as well as write.

Roadmap

The current status as of October 3rd, 2012 is that both the lexer and parser actually works. A lot of Snowscript can be compiled to PHP. But there is still tons of work until it's usable. Version 0.4 will be the first release and will be of alpha quality. Come join the fun!

Todo 0.4

  • Webpage.
  • Scoping rules.
  • Namespaces.
  • Command line compile tools.
  • Tolerable error messages.
  • Code cleanup.

Done

  • Strict comparison operators.
  • Comments.
  • Strings.
  • Ternary operator.
  • Control structures.
  • For loops.
  • Function style casts.
  • Classes part1 + 2.
  • Destructuring.
  • Parsing of basic syntax.
  • Transformations for the non LALR(1) compatible features of Snowscript like implicit parenthesis and significant whitespace.
  • Lexer.

Todo 0.5

  • Named parameters.
  • List comprehension.
  • Inner functions.
  • Parser written in Snowscript.
  • Existance.

Todo 0.6

  • Closures.

Todo 0.7

  • Great error messages.
  • Namespaces.

Todo 0.8

  • Macros.

Quickstart

Stub.

See "USAGE.rst" and "INSTALL.rst" in this folder.

Documentation

Whitespace

Snowscript has significant whitespace and the code structure is managed by indention, not by curly brackets "{}" or "do/end". Whitespace is not significant inside strings and brackets "()[]{}".

The only allowed indention format is 4 spaces.

snowscript:

fn how_big_is_it(number)
    if number < 100
        <- "small"
    else
        <- "big"

php:

$how_big_is_it = function($number) {
    if ($number < 100) {
        return "small";
    } else {
        return "big";
    }
}

Variables

A variable matches the regular expression [a-zA-Z][a-zA-Z0-9_]+.

snowscript:

fungus = "Sarcoscypha coccinea"

php:

$fungus = "Sarcoscypha coccinea";

Declaring a variable in ALL_CAPS marks it as global to the scope it's declared in. ALL_CAPS variables declared in the root scope can be accessed from other files.

snowscript:

ONE = "first"
two = "second"

fn stuff()
    echo ONE # Echo's "first"
    echo two # E_NOTICE

php:

global $Namespace__ONE;
$Namespace__ONE = "first";
$two = "second";

$stuff = function() {
    global $Namespace__ONE;
    echo $Namespace__ONE; // Echo's "first"
    echo $two; # E_NOTICE
}

Comparison

All comparison operators are strong and there are no weak versions. The supported operators are "==", "!=", "<", ">", "<=" and ">=". If the two compared values are not of the same type, a TypeComparisonError will be thrown. Thats also the case when comparing an int to a float.

snowscript:

if my_feet > average_feet:
    echo "BIGFOOT"

php:

if (snow_gt($my_feet, $average_feet)) {
    echo "BIGFOOT";
}

Comments

snowscript:

# Single line.
###
Multiple
Lines.
###

php:

// Single line.
/**
 * Multiple
 * Lines.
 */

Strings

There are two kind of strings: """ and ", both multiline.

Whitespace before the current indentation level is stripped. A newline can be cancelled by ending the previous line with "\".

Concatenation

Strings can be concatenated with the "%" operator.

snowscript:

echo "I am" % " legend!"

php:

echo 'I am' . ' legend!';

Formatting

There are deliberately no expansion of code or variables inside strings, but chaining a string with sprintf does the job.

snowscript:

"My favorite %s is %d"->sprintf("number", 42)

php:

sprintf("My favorite %s is %d", "number", 42);

List

Lists are defined using square brackets "[]" with each value separated by ",". A trailing "," is allowed.

snowscript:

pianists = ["McCoy Tyner", "Fred Hersch", "Bill Evans"]

php:

$pianists = array("McCoy Tyner", "Fred Hersch", "Bill Evans");

Values are assigned running integers and can be accessed with "[]".

snowscript:

# Fred Hersch
echo pianists[1]

php:

# Fred Hersch
echo $pianists[1];

Dictionary

Use "{}" to define a dictionary. The key and value of each key/value pair are separated by ":".

snowscript:

series = [
    {
        title: "Heroes",
        genre: "Science Fiction",
        creator: "Tim Kring",
        seasons: 4,
    },
    {
        title: "Game Of Thrones",
        genre: "Medieval fantasy",
        creator: "David Benioff",
        seasons: 2,
    },
]

php:

$series = array(
    "Heroes" => array(
        'genre' => "Science Fiction",
        'creator' => "Tim Kring",
        'seasons' => 4,
    ),
    "Game Of Thrones" => array(
        'genre' => "Medieval fantasy",
        'creator' => "David Benioff",
        'seasons' => 2,
    )),
);

Accessing dictionaries is done using square brackets "[]".

snowscript:

echo series[0]['genre']

php:

echo $series[0]['genre'];

Functions

The "fn" keyword is used to define functions, and "<-" to return a value.

snowscript:

fn titlefy(fancystring)
    <- fancystring.make_fancy()
titlefy(so_fancy)

php:

$titlefy = function($fancystring) {
    return $fancystring->make_fancy();
}
$titlefy($so_fancy);

Functions are first-class citizens.

Pass by reference and type hinting is not supported. A function is available after it's definition, in and below the scope its be defined in.

Optional parameters

Functions does not allow to be defined with optional parameters.

Named parameters

Named parameters uses variable declaration syntax.

snowscript:

fn render(template, allow_html=true, klingon=false)
    echo template.render(allow_html, klingon)

render("index.html", klingon=true)

php:

$render = function($template, $options_) {
    $defaults_ = array(
        'allow_html' => true,
        'klingon' => false,
    );
    $options_ += $defaults_;
    echo $template->render($options_['allow_html'], $options_['klingon']);
}

$render("index.html", array('klingon'=> true));

Chaining

Function calls can be chained using the "->" operator which passes the prior expression along as the first argument to the function.

snowscript:

"peter"->ucfirst()->str_rot13()

php:

str_rot13(ucfirst("peter"));

Inner functions

Inner functions comes highly recommended.

snowscript:

fn wash_car(Car car)
    fn apply_water(car)
        pass
    fn dry(car)
        pass
    <- car->apply_water()->dry()

php:

function wash_car(Car $car) {
    $apply_water = function($car) {

    }
    $dry = function($car) {

    }
    return $dry($apply_water($car));
}

Closures

Anonymous functions are declared like a normal function without the function name and surrounded by "()".

A "+" before the variable name binds a variable from the outer scope.

snowscript:

use_me = get_use_me()
little_helper = (fn(input, +use_me)
    <- polish(input, use_me))

little_helper(Lamp())

takes_functions(
    (fn(x)
        y = give_me_a_y(x)
        <- [x * 2, y]
    ),
    (fn(y, c)
        <- y * c
    ),
)

php:

$use_me = get_use_me();
$little_helper = function($input) use ($use_me) {
    return polish($input, $use_me);
}

$little_helper(new Lamp);

takes_functions(
    function($x) {
        $y = give_me_a_y($x);
        return array($x * 2, $y);
    },
    function($y, $c) {
        return $y * $c;
    }
)

As the only structure in Snowscript, closures has a single line mode.

snowscript:

filter(guys, (fn(guy) <- weight(guy) > 100))

php:

filter($guys, function() {
    return weight($guy) > 100;
});

Destructuring

Snowscript has simple destructuring.

snowscript:

[a, b, c] = [b, c, a]
[a, b, [c, d]] = letters

php:

list($a, $b, $c) = array($b, $c, $a);
list($a, $b, list($c, $d)) = $letters;

Control structures

Two control structures are available: "if" and the ternary operator.

if

snowscript:

if white_walkers.numbers < 500
    fight_valiantly()
elif feeling_lucky
    improvise()
else
    run()

php:

if ($white_walkers->numbers < 500) {
    fight_valiantly();
} elif ($feeling_lucky) {
    improvise();
} else {
    run();
}

Ternary operator

Ternary operator is a oneline if a then b else c syntax.

snowscript:

echo if height > 199 then "tall" else "small"

php:

echo ($height > 199 ? "tall" : "small");

Type casting

To cast an expression to a type, use the array, bool, float, int, object or str functions.

php:

array(a)

php:

(array) $a;

Loops

For

Two kind of for loops are supported. Iterating over a collection, and iterating over a numeric range. Both key and value are local to the loop.

snowscript:

for title, data in flowers
    echo [data.id, title]

for i in 1 to 10 step 2
    echo i
for i in 10 downto 1
    echo i

php:

foreach ($flowers as $title => $data) {
    echo array($data->id, $title);
}
unset($title, $data);

for ($i=1; $i <= 10; $i+=2) {
    echo $i;
}
unset($i);
for ($i=10; $i >= 0; --$i) {
    echo $i;
}
unset($i);

While

snow:

while frog.ass.is_watertight
    echo "Rinse and repeat."

php:

while ($frog->ass->is_watertight) {
    echo "Rinse and repeat.";
}

Array comprehension

Snowscript has array comprehension similiar to that of Python and others.

snowscript:

[x, y for x in [1,2,3] for y in [3,1,4] if x != y]->var_dump()

fights = [fight(samurai, villain)
          for samurai in seven_samurais
              if samurai.is_awake()
                for villain in seven_vaillains
                    if not villain.is_in_jail()]

php:

$result_ = array();
foreach (array(1, 2, 3) as $x) {
    foreach (array(3, 1, 4) as $y) {
        if ($x != $y) {
            $result_[$x] = $y;
        }
    }
}
unset($x, $y);
var_dump($result_);

$fights = array();
foreach ($seven_samurais as $samurai) {
    if (!$samurai->is_awake()) {
        continue;
    }
    foreach ($seven_villains as $villain) {
        if ($villain->is_in_jail()) {
            continue;
        }
        $fights[] = fight($samurai, $villain);
    }
}
unset($samurai, $villain);

Objects

Stub.

An object is a lightweight class, native to snowscript.

snowscript:

object WebCam(driver, direction=false)
    extends = [Cam, Device]

    fn take_pic(self)
        super
        if .direction
            .driver.rotate(.direction)

        <- .driver.snapshot()

    driver.inititalize()
  • Arguments to the object are available as properties.
  • super always passes the same arguments as the method it's being called from.
  • Code in the root scope of the object is executed on object instantiation.
  • Has multiple inheritance.

The typical PSR-1 application structure where everything is a class in its own file is not recommended in Snowscript.

Instead use functions to encapsulate logic and ALL_CAPS variables for global state. Signs that using an object is appropriate includes:

  • You need more than one type of something
  • ...

Operators

Stub.

A number of operators has changed from PHP.

PHP Snow
&& and
! not
|| or
and N/A
or N/A
% mod
$a %= $b N/A
. %
$a .= $b N/A
& band
| bor
^ bxor
<< bleft
>> bright
~ bnot

Namespaces

A namespace is defined by adding an empty file called "__namespace.snow" in the folder which should be the root of the namespace. So given a directory structure as:

.
└── starwars
    ├── __namespace.snow
    ├── __import.snow
    ├── battle.snow
    ├── galaxy.snow
    └── settings.snow

the file "battle.snow" would be assigned the namespace "starwars.battle". If no "__namespace.snow" file is found in the same folder or above, the namespace will be that of the filename itself.

Classes, interfaces, traits, functions, constants, variables can belong to a namespace.

To make a member exportable it must be defined in the root scope of the file.

If any member is prefixed with "_" it is a warning that it should not be accessed from outside its file.

Importing

Members from other namespaces are imported by the import() function that must be called before any other statements.

There is no namespace operator, so everything needed must be explicitly imported. When using an imported namespace, the type of what follows the namespace is inferred. See "Naming conventions".

snowscript:

import({
    "FancyFramework.Db": {
        classes: ["Retry", "Transaction"],
        objects: ["Model"],
        interfaces: ["Model_Interface"],
        traits: ["DateStampable"],
        fns: ["model_from_array"],
        constants: ["!SUCCES", "!FAILURE"],
        variables: ["db_types"],
        namespaces: ["Fields"],
        below: {
            "Backends": {
                objects: ["Mongo, Postgres, Datomic"],
            },
        },
    },
    __global: {
        classes: ["SplStack"],
        interfaces: ["Countable"],
        fns: [["mb_strlen", "s_len"], "trim"],
        constants: ["!E_ALL"],
    },
})

Retry()
model_from_array()
!SUCCES

fn do_it()
    db_types

s_len("yo")

Fields.Integer()

php:

use FancyFramework\Db\Retry;
use FancyFramework\Db\Transaction;
use FancyFramework\Db\Model_Interface;
use FancyFramework\Db\DateStampable;
use FancyFramework\Db\SUCCES;
use FancyFramework\Db\FAILURE;
use FancyFramework\Db;
use FancyFramework\Backends\Mongo;
use FancyFramework\Backends\Postgres;
use FancyFramework\Backends\Datomic;
use FancyFramework\Db\Retry\Fields;

use \SplStack;
use \Countable;
use \mb_strlen;
use \trim;
use \E_ALL;

new Retry();
\FancyFramework\Db\model_from_array();
\FancyFramework\Db\SUCCES;

$do_it = function() {
    global $Fancyframework_Db__db_types;
    $Fancyframework_Db__db_types;
}

mb_strlen("yo");

new Fields\Integer();

Global imports

If a file named "__import.snow" containing an import definition is found in the same folder as "__namespace.snow", it's imports are available for all ".snow" files in and below that directory.

Scoping rules

  • Functions, ALL_CAPS variables, objects and constants are available in all scopes after they are defined.
  • Classes and imported members are available throughout the entire file in all scopes.
  • Not all_caps variables are limited to after their definition in the scope they are defined in.

Naming conventions

Sometimes snowscript needs to guess a type to differentiate between functions and classes. The single rule is that functions must start with a lowercase letter and classes with an uppercase.

Snow Standard Library

A single php files needs to be included in your project. For now it only holds functions and exceptions used in the compiled PHP code, but the goal is that Snowscript will have a set of builtin functions too.

Include it like:

require('path/to/snowscript/stdlib/bootstrap.php')

PHP Compatability Features

Constants

The use of of constants in snowscript is not recommended. This is because PHP constants are limited to scalar values and thus breaks the symmetry when you all of a sudden need to have a constant that is, say an array. All caps variables are recommended instead.

A constant has a prefixed "!" and supports assignment. The same goes for class constants.

snowscript:

!DB_ENGINE = 'mysql'

php:

define('DB_ENGINE', 'mysql');

Classes

Objects are used instead of classes. Classes only exists for interoperability with PHP code.

Declaration

A "." is used to access the class instance and ".." to access the class. Unlike for functions, type hints are allowed in methods. This is necessary to be compatible with PHP.

snowscript:

class TabularWriter
    title = title
    private filehandle = null

    fn __construct(File path, filesystem, title)
        .check_filesystem(filesystem)
        .init_file(path)

    fn check_filesystem(filesystem)
        if not filesystems()[filesystem]?
            throw UnsupportedFilesystemError()

    fn init_file(path)
        if not file_exists(path)
            throw FileMissingError()
        else
            .filehandle = open_file(path)

php:

class TabularWriter {
    public $title;
    private $filehandle;

    public function __construct(File $path, $title) {
        $this->title = $title;
        $this->check_filesystem();
        $this->init_file($path);
    }

    public function check_filesystem() {
        $tmp_ = supported_filesystems();
        if (!isset($tmp_[self::$filesystem])) {
            throw new UnsupportedFilesystemError;
        }
        unset($tmp_);
    }

    public function init_file($path) {
        if (!file_exists($path)) {
            throw new FileMissingError;
        } else {
            $this->filehandle = open_file($path);
        }
    }
}

A class can inherit a single class, implement multiple interfaces and use multiple traits.

snowscript:

abstract class FactoryFactory
    extends AbstractBuilder
    implements IFactoryFactory, IBuilder
    uses FactoryBehaviour, LoggingBehaviour

    !DEFAULT_FACTORY = "DefaultFactory"

    protected static
        factories = []
        version = 1.0

    public static fn getInstance(factoryClassName)
        <- ..factories[factoryClassName]

php:

abstract class FactoryFactory extends AbstractBuilder implements FactoryFactoryInterface, IBuilder {
    use FactoryBehaviour;
    use LoggingBehaviour;

    const DEFAULT_FACTORY = "DefaultFactory";

    protected static $factories = [];
    protected static $version = 1.0;

    public static function getInstance($factoryClassName) {
        return self::factories[$factoryClassName];
    }

}
Usage

Class instantiation uses function notation.

snowscript:

Bicycle(Rider())

php:

new Bicycle(new Rider));

Properties and methods on instantiated classes is accessed with the "." operator. Using ".." accesses static members.

snowscript:

wind = Wind(52, 12)
wind.blow()
Newspaper().read()

Player..register("Ronaldo")
Player..!MALE
Player..genders

php:

$wind = Wind(52, 12);
$wind->blow();
(new Newspaper())->read();

Player::register("Ronaldo");
Player::MALE;
Player::$genders;

Traits

Stub.

Macros

Stub.

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