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| layout | title |
|---|---|
| soml | Soml Syntax |
Top level Class and methods
The top level declarations in a file may only be class definitions
class Dictionary < Object
int add(Object o)
... statements
end
end
The class hierarchy is explained in here, but you can leave out the superclass and Object will be assumed.
Methods must be typed, both arguments and return. Generally class names serve as types, but int can be used as a shortcut for Integer.
Code may not be outside method definitions, like in ruby. A compiled program starts at the builtin method init, that does the inital setup, an then jumps to Object.main
Classes are represented by class objects and methods my Method objects, so all information is available at runtime.
Expressions
Soml distinguishes between expressions and statements. Expressions have value, statements perform an action. Both are compiled to Register level instructions for the current method. Generally speaking expressions store their value in a register and statements store those values elsewhere, possibly after operating on them.
Basic expressions are numbers (integer or float), strings or names, either variable, argument, field or class names. (normal details applicable). Special names include self (the current receiver), and message (the currently executed method frame). These all resolve to a register with contents.
23
"hi there"
argument_name
Object
A field access resolves to the fields value at the time. Fields must be defined by field definitions, and are basically instance variables, but not hidden (see below). The example below shows how to define local variables at the same time. Notice chaining, both for field access and call, is not allowed.
Layout l = self.layout
Class c = l.object_class
Word n = c.name
A Call expression is a method call that resolves to the methods return value. If no receiver is specified, self (the current receiver) is used. The receiver may be any of the basic expressions above, so also class instances. The receiver type is known at compile time, as are all argument types, so the class of the receiver is searched for a matching method. Many methods of the same name may exist, but to issue a call, an exact match for the arguments must be found.
Class c = self.get_class()
c.get_super_class()
An operator expression is a binary expression, with either of the other expressions as left and right operand, and an operator symbol between them. Operand types must be integer. The symbols allowed are normal arithmetic and logical operations.
a + b
counter | 255
mask >> shift
Operator expressions may be used in assignments and conditions, but not in calls, where the result would have to be assigned beforehand. This is one of those cases where soml's low level approach shines through, as soml has no auto-generated temporary variables.
Statements
We have seen the top level statements above. In methods the most interesting statements relate to flow control and specifically how conditionals are expressed. This differs somewhat from other languages, in that the condition is expressed explicitly (not implicitly like in c or ruby). This lets the programmer express more precisely what is tested, and also opens an extensible framework for more tests than available in other languages. Specifically overflow may be tested in soml, without dropping down to assembler.
And if statement is started with the keyword if_ and then contains the branch type. The branch type may be plus, minus, zero, nonzero or overflow. The condition must be in brackets and be any expression. If may be continued with en else, but doesn't have to be, and is ended with end
if_zero(a - 5)
....
else
....
end
A while statement is very much like an if, with off course the normal loop semantics, and without the possible else.
while_plus( counter )
....
end
A return statement return a value from the current functions. There are no void functions.
return 5
A field definition is to declare an instance variable on an object. It starts with the keyword field, must be in class (not method) scope and may not be assigned to.
class Class < Object
field List instance_methods
field Layout object_layout
field Word name
...
end
A local variable definition declares and possibly assign to a local variable. Local variables are store in frame objects and the are last in search order. When resolving a name, the compiler checks argument names first, and then local variables.
int counter = 0
Any of the expression may be assigned to the variable at the time of definition. After a variable is defined it may be assigned to with an assignemnt statement any number of times. The assignment is like an assignment during definition, without the leading type.
counter = 0
Any of the expressions, basic, call, operator, field access, may be assigned.
Code generation and scope
Compiling generates two results simultaneously. The more obvious code for a function, but also an object structure of classes etc that capture the declarations. To understand the code part better the register abstraction should be studied, and to understand the object structure the runtime.
The register machine abstraction is very simple, and so is the code generation, in favour of a simple model. Especially in the area of register assignment, there is no magic and only a few simple rules.
The main one of those concerns main memory access ordering and states that object memory must be consistent at the end of the statement. Since there is only only object memory in soml, this concerns all assignments, since all variables are either named or indexed members of objects. Also local variables are just members of the frame.
This obviously does leave room for optimisation as preliminary benchmarks show. But benchmarks also show that it is not such a bit issue and much more benefit can be achieved by inlining.