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Version: 0.0.1

Syntax Basics

This page documents the core language syntax of RayQuiro 0.0.1.

Source Files​

The current source extension is:

.rq

Example:

main.rq
hello.rq
math.rq

Comments​

Single-line comments​

// this is a comment
print("hello");

Block comments​

/*
  multi-line comment
*/
print("hello");

Strings​

Strings use double quotes:

var name = "RayQuiro";

Supported escape sequences in 0.0.1:

  • \n
  • \t
  • \"
  • \\

Example:

print("line 1\nline 2");

Numbers​

RayQuiro supports integer-like and decimal numeric literals:

var a = 12;
var b = 3.14;

Internally, numbers are handled as numeric values and can be passed through math-style built-ins.

Booleans And Null​

var online = true;
var done = false;
var value = null;

Variables​

var​

Mutable binding:

var score = 0;
score = score + 1;

let​

Read-only binding:

let title = "RayQuiro";

Trying to assign to a let binding raises an error.

Functions​

Declare functions with fn:

fn greet(name) {
    return "Hello, " + name;
}

Multiple parameters are supported:

fn mix(a, b, c) {
    return a + b + c;
}

Functions are called by name:

print(greet("world"));

Statements​

RayQuiro supports:

  • variable declarations
  • function declarations
  • expression statements
  • if
  • while
  • for
  • return
  • break
  • continue
  • block statements with { ... }

if / else​

if (score > 10) {
    print("High score");
} else {
    print("Keep going");
}

while​

var i = 0;
while (i < 5) {
    print(i);
    i = i + 1;
}

for​

RayQuiro 0.0.1 uses a C-style for loop:

for (var i = 0; i < 5; i = i + 1) {
    print(i);
}

You can also omit parts:

var i = 0;
for (; i < 3; i = i + 1) {
    print(i);
}

Arrays​

Array literals use square brackets:

var items = [1, 2, 3];
var color = [98, 204, 255, 255];

Indexing also uses square brackets:

print(items[0]);

The same syntax can index strings:

print("Ray"[0]);

Operators​

Arithmetic​

  • +
  • -
  • *
  • /
  • %

Comparison​

  • ==
  • !=
  • <
  • <=
  • >
  • >=

Logical​

  • !
  • &&
  • ||

Assignment​

  • =

Truthiness​

The interpreter treats these values as false:

  • null
  • false
  • 0
  • empty string
  • empty array
  • empty object-like runtime value

Everything else is considered true.

Logging Shortcut​

RayQuiro also accepts a log-style statement form:

log.info => "Hello";

This prints the same way as print(...).

Semicolons​

Semicolons are used across the examples and are strongly recommended:

var name = "RayQuiro";
print(name);

Keep using them consistently even when a simple statement may parse without one.

Core Built-in Functions​

This section documents the built-ins available in the core language.

print(...values)​

Prints all arguments separated by spaces.

print("score", 12, true);

len(value)​

Returns the length of:

  • a string
  • an array
  • an object-like runtime value

For unsupported values, it returns 0.

str(value)​

Converts a value to string.

num(value)​

Converts a value to number.

bool(value)​

Converts a value to RayQuiro truthiness.

type(value)​

Returns one of:

  • "null"
  • "number"
  • "string"
  • "bool"
  • "array"
  • "object"
  • "unknown"

range(end)​

range(start, end)​

range(start, end, step)​

Creates an array of numbers.

print(range(5));        // [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
print(range(2, 6));     // [2, 3, 4, 5]
print(range(10, 4, -2)); // [10, 8, 6]

push(array, value)​

Pushes a value into an array and returns the array.

var items = [1, 2];
push(items, 3);
print(items);

pop(array)​

Removes and returns the last item of an array.

join(array, separator)​

Joins array items into a string.

split(text, separator)​

Splits text into an array.

If separator is empty or omitted, the string is split into characters.

upper(text)​

lower(text)​

Uppercase and lowercase conversion.

Supports:

  • string contains substring
  • array contains value

trim(text)​

Trims leading and trailing whitespace.

replace(text, needle, replacement)​

Replaces all occurrences of needle.

slice(value, start, end)​

Supports:

  • string slices
  • array slices

The end index is exclusive.

floor(number)​

ceil(number)​

round(number)​

Number helpers.

min(a, b, ...)​

max(a, b, ...)​

Returns the minimum or maximum numeric value.

clamp(value, minValue, maxValue)​

Clamps a number into a range.

sleep(milliseconds)​

Pauses the script.

clock.ms()​

Returns the current monotonic clock value in milliseconds.

random()​

random(max)​

random(min, max)​

Returns a random floating-point number.

random.int()​

random.int(max)​

random.int(min, max)​

Returns a random integer value.

Example: Core Language Showcase​

var nums = range(1, 6);
push(nums, 9);

print("len:", len(nums));
print("joined:", join(nums, ", "));
print("slice:", slice(nums, 1, 4));
print("contains 3:", contains(nums, 3));
print("random:", random(10, 20));
print("dice:", random.int(1, 6));