6.1 List of Changes and New Features: "Guilib - Ring"
6.1 List of Changes and New Features: "Guilib - Ring"
SIX
In this chapter we will learn about the changes and new features in Ring 1.3 release.
(1) Another version of QPixMap class is added (QPixMap2) which takes (int width,int height) during object init.
Example:
Load "guilib.ring"
New qapp
{
win1 = new qwidget()
{
setwindowtitle("Drawing using QPixMap")
setgeometry(100,100,500,500)
label1 = new qlabel(win1)
{
setgeometry(10,10,400,400)
settext("")
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}
imageStock = new qlabel(win1)
{
image = new qPixMap2(200,200)
color = new qcolor() {
setrgb(255,255,255,255)
}
pen = new qpen() {
setcolor(color)
setwidth(10)
}
new qpainter() {
begin(image)
setpen(pen)
drawline(0,0,200,200)
drawline(200,0,0,200)
endpaint()
}
setpixmap(image)
}
show()
}
exec()
}
Screen Shot:
func OpenSecondWindow
Open_WindowAndLink(:SecondWindowController,self)
func SendMessage
if IsSecondWindow()
SecondWindow().setMessage("Message from the first window")
ok
import System.GUI
This doesnt have any effect on our previous code, Its just another choice for better code that is consistent with Ring
rules.
Also the form designer is updated to provide us the choice between using classes where (index start from 0) or (index
start from 1)
Example (Uses the Form Designer)
1. https://github.com/ring-lang/ring/blob/master/applications/formdesigner/tests/indexstart/indexstartView.ring
2. https://github.com/ring-lang/ring/blob/master/applications/formdesigner/tests/indexstart/indexstartController.ring
3. Auto-Complete for Ring functions names, classes and words in the opened file.
5. Output Window
6. Classes List
The Loop|Exit command is updated to accept Expressions after the command (not only numbers).
The syntax:
Loop|Exit [Number]
Changed to
Loop|Exit [Expression]
Example
XLoop = 2 # The outer loop
YLoop = 1 # The first inner loop
for x = 1 to 10
for y = 1 to 10
see "x=" + x + " y=" + y + nl
if x = 3 and y = 5
exit XLoop
ok
next
next
PackageName() function
Swap() function
Example:
aList = [:one,:two,:four,:three]
see aList
see copy("*",50) + nl
swap(aList,3,4)
see aList
Output
one
two
four
three
**************************************************
one
two
three
four
In this release, using Return Self in class methods will return the object by reference.
Example:
mylist = [new mytest() {
see self
x = 20
see self
}]
see mylist
class mytest
x = 15
func init
return self # Return by reference
Output
x: 15.000000
x: 20.000000
x: 20.000000
In this release of the Ring language we can use the < and : operators as the from keyword
Syntax (1):
class Cat from Animal
Syntax (2):
class Cat < Animal
Syntax (3):
class Cat : Animal
From Ring 1.0 we already have functions for embedding Ring in the C language. Also we can execute Ring code
inside Ring programs using the eval() function. In this release we provide functions for embedding Ring in Ring
programs without sharing the state.
Advantages:
1. Quick integration for Ring programs and applications together without conflicts.
2. Execute and run Ring code in safe environments that we can trace.
Example:
pState = ring_state_init()
ring_state_runcode(pState,"See 'Hello, World!'+nl")
ring_state_runcode(pState,"x = 10")
pState2 = ring_state_init()
ring_state_runcode(pState2,"See 'Hello, World!'+nl")
ring_state_runcode(pState2,"x = 20")
ring_state_runcode(pState,"see x +nl")
ring_state_runcode(pState2,"see x +nl")
v1 = ring_state_findvar(pState,"x")
v2 = ring_state_findvar(pState2,"x")
see v1[3] + nl
see V2[3] + nl
ring_state_delete(pState)
ring_state_delete(pState2)
Output:
Hello, World!
Hello, World!
10
20
10
20
Ring 1.3 comes with the RingZip library for creating, modifying and extracting *.zip files.
Example (1): Create myfile.zip contains 4 files
load "ziplib.ring"
oZip = zip_openfile("myfile.zip",'w')
zip_addfile(oZip,"test.c")
zip_addfile(oZip,"zip.c")
zip_addfile(oZip,"zip.h")
zip_addfile(oZip,"miniz.h")
zip_close(oZip)
new Zip {
SetFileName("myfile.zip")
Open("w")
AddFile("test.c")
AddFile("zip.c")
AddFile("zip.h")
AddFile("miniz.h")
Close()
}
Ring 1.3 comes with the Form Designer to quickly design your GUI application windows/forms and generate the Ring
source code.
Its written in Ring (Around 8000 Lines of code) using Object-Oriented Programming and Meta-Programming.
We can run the From Designer from Ring Notepad
SEVEN
In this chapter we will learn about the changes and new features in Ring 1.2 release.
PtrCmp() Function is a new function that compare between C pointers like the GUI objects.
PrevFileName() Function is added to return the previous active source file name.
RingVM_CFunctionsList() Function is added to return a list of functions written in C.
RingVM_FunctionsList() Function is added to return a list of functions written in Ring.
RingVM_ClassesList() Function is added to return a list of Classes.
RingVM_PackagesList() Function is added to return a list of Packages.
RingVM_MemoryList() Function is added to return a list of Memory Scopes and Variables.
RingVM_CallList() Function is added to return a list of the functions call list.
RingVM_FilesList() Function is added to return a list of the Ring Files.
Example:
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Ring Documentation, Release 1.4.1
fp = fopen("ptrcmp.ring","r")
fp2 = fp
fp3 = fopen("ptrcmp.ring","r")
see ptrcmp(fp,fp2) + nl
see ptrcmp(fp,fp3) + nl
fclose(fp)
fclose(fp3)
Output:
1
0
Output:
0
1
Example:
The next function in stdlib.ring uses the PrevFileName() to know if the file of the caller function is the main source
file of the program or not.
Func IsMainSourceFile
if PrevFileName() = sysargv[2]
return true
ok
return false
The find() function is updated to support searching in lists using C pointers like GUI Objects.
The type() function is updated to display the C pointers types (like the GUI Object Class Name).
The Ring Notepad will save the current line number of opened files to be restored when we switch between files.
Also Ring Notepad will ask the user to save the file if the file content is changed when the user switch between files.
RingQt classes are updated to include methods to get events (The code that will be executed when an event is fired).
This is necessary to enable/disable events for some time or to get the events information.
For example the next code disable an event then call a method then enable the event again.
cEvent = oView.oListResult.getCurrentItemChangedEvent()
oView.oListResult.setCurrentItemChangedEvent("")
FindValueAction() # Call Method while an event is disabled
oView.oListResult.setCurrentItemChangedEvent(cEvent)
Also the QAllEvents class is updated where we can set the output from the event function to be true or false using a
new method added to the class called setEventOutput.
Load "guilib.ring"
func pMove
win.setWindowTitle("xxxx")
oFilter.setEventOutput(False)
Ring 1.2 comes with the Objects library for RingQt applications. Instead of using global variables for windows
objects and connecting events to objects using the object name, the Objects Library will manage the GUI objects and
will provide a more natural API to quickly create one or many windows from the same class and the library provide
a way to quickly set methods to be executed when an event is fired. Also the library provide a natural interface to
quickly use the parent or the caller windows from the child or sub windows.
The Objects Library is designed to be used with the MVC Design Pattern.
The Objects Library is merged in RingQt so you can use it directly when you use RingQt
Example :
load "guilib.ring"
new qApp {
open_window( :MainWindowController )
exec()
}
7.7 RingLibCurl
The LibCurl library is used starting from Ring 1.0 for the Download() and SendEmail() functions implementation. In
Ring 1.2 more functions are added to provide a powerful library (RingLibCurl) around LibCurl.
Example:
load "libcurl.ring"
curl = curl_easy_init()
cPostThis = "page=4&Number1=4&Number2=5"
curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_URL, "http://localhost/ringapp/index.ring?page=3")
curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, cPostThis)
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curl_easy_perform(curl)
curl_easy_cleanup(curl)
The Call command is updated to support calling functions from object attributes also (not only variables).
For example the next code from the Stars Fighter Game
cFunc = oself.keypress
call cFunc(oGame,oSelf,Key_Space)
In Ring 1.2 the Ring compiler is updated to include the Display Warnings option (-w)
Example:
load "stdlib.ring"
load "stdlib.ring"
compiling the program using the Display Warnings option will display the file duplication warning, While without that
option the error will pass silent.
This is a warning (not an error) because in large projects you may use the same file more than one time. For example
its common to start each file with the next code. where the function IsMainSourceFile() is part from the stdlib.ring
load "stdlib.ring"
if IsMainSourceFile()
// Testing
ok
Ring 1.2 is more stable, We discovered and fixed more bugs during Ring usage everyday in practical projects. Some
functions are optimized to be faster like the SubStr() function. Also the documentation is more better.
EIGHT
In this chapter we will learn about the changes and new features in Ring 1.1 release.
Ring is an innovative language because of its compact syntax, smart implementation (small, transparent & visual) and
its ability to create declarative and natural domain specific languages in a fraction of time.
This release add support for calling methods when an expression is evaluated
check this example:
# Natural Code
new program {
Accept 2 numbers then print the sum
}
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Ring Documentation, Release 1.4.1
class program
# Keywords
Accept=0 numbers=0 then=0 print=0 the=0 sum=0
# Execution
func braceexpreval x
value = x
func getnumbers
for x=1 to value
see "Enter Number ("+x+") :" give nNumber
aNumbers + nNumber
next
func getsum
nSUm = 0
for x in aNumbers nSum+= x next
see "The Sum : " + nSum
private
value=0 aNumbers=[]
Output:
Enter Number (1) :3
Enter Number (2) :4
The Sum : 7
This feature enable you to distribute your applications without distributing the source code. Also it makes application
distribution a simple process where you get one Ring object file for the complete project (many source code files).
Also using Ring object file remove the loading time required for compiling the application.
Check the command line options chapter to know more about this feature.
8.4 Syntax Flexibility and different styles for I/O and Control Struc-
tures
Programmers are sensitive to the programming language syntax. Great programmers know how to work using many
different styles but each programmer may have his/her favorite style.
Each programming language comes with a style that you may like or not. Ring is just one of these languages, but as a
response to many programmers asking for a better syntax we decided to provide more options.
Also some of these features are very necessary for Natural Language Programming.
Example :
We have two commands to change language keywords and operators.
ChangeRingOperator + plus
ChangeRingKeyword see print
Print 5 plus 5
ChangeRingOperator plus +
ChangeRingKeyword print see
Example :
Load "stdlib.ring"
Put "
Main Menu
---------
(1) Say Hello
(2) About
(3) Exit
Switch nOption
Case 1
Put "Enter your name : "
Get name
Put "Hello " + name + nl
Case 2
Put "Sample : using while loop" + nl
Case 3
Bye
Else
Put "bad option..." + nl
End
End
Example :
Load "stdlib.ring"
While True {
print("
Main Menu
---------
(1) Say Hello
(2) About
(3) Exit
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Ring Documentation, Release 1.4.1
")
nOption = GetString()
switch nOption {
case 1
print("Enter your name : ")
name = getstring()
print("Hello #{name}\n")
case 2
print("Sample : using switch statement\n")
case 3
Bye
else
print("bad option...\n")
}
Note: All of these styles are provided automatically by the compiler at the same time, Its better to select one style for
the same project (you can create your style as a mix from these styles) for example you can use Put/Get and Braces.
Changed:
get() function : changed to sysget()
sort() function : can now work on list of objects
find() function : can now work on list of objects
Added:
clockspersecond()
CurrentDir()
ExeFileName()
ChDir()
ExeFolder()
varptr()
space()
nullpointer()
object2pointer()
pointer2object()
Check the next chapters
System Functions
Object Oriented Programming (OOP)
Low Level Functions
Ring 1.1 comes with a library called StdLib, its written in Ring by the help of Ring Team
The library provide a useful group of new functions and classes
Example:
Load "stdlib.ring"
Puts("Test Times()")
Times ( 3 , func { see "Hello, World!" + nl } )
Example:
Load "stdlib.ring"
Puts("Test Map()")
See Map( 1:10, func x { return x*x } )
Example:
Load "stdlib.ring"
Puts("Test Filter()")
See Filter( 1:10 , func x { if x <= 5 return true else return false ok } )
Example:
Load "stdlib.ring"
Example:
Load "stdlib.ring"
Example:
Load "stdlib.ring"
Example:
Load "stdlib.ring"
Example:
Load "stdlib.ring"
Example:
Load "stdlib.ring"
}
}
oTree.children[2].children[3].children[3].set("2.3.3")
}
see copy("*",60) + nl
oTree.print()
8.7 RingLibSDL
Ring 1.0 provided RingAllegro to be able to create games using the Allegro game programming library
Now Ring 1.1 provide RingLibSDL also so we can have the choice between Allegro or LibSDL
Example:
Load "libsdl.ring"
SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_EVERYTHING)
win = SDL_CreateWindow("Hello World!", 100, 100, 640, 480, SDL_WINDOW_SHOWN)
SDL_Delay(2000)
SDL_DestroyWindow(win)
SDL_Quit()
In practice we would create a game engine in a language like C/C++ to get the best performance then provide Ring
classes to use the engine.
But many 2D Games are simple and creating a game engine in Ring will be fast enough in many cases
Also this would be a good demo project to learn about the language concepts where we build things using Object Ori-
ented Programming (OOP) then access the power that we have using declarative programming using nested structures
or using natural programming.
In this project we selected the first way (declarative programming using nested structures)
Example:
Load "gameengine.ring" # Give Control to the Game Engine
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file = "fonts/pirulen.ttf"
text = "game development using ring is very fun!"
color = rgb(0,0,0) # Color = black
}
text {
x = 10 y=150
# Animation Part ======================================
animate = true # Use Animation
direction = GE_DIRECTION_INCVERTICAL # Increase y
point = 400 # Continue until y=400
nStep = 3 # Each time y+= 3
#======================================================
size = 20
file = "fonts/pirulen.ttf"
text = "welcome to the real world!"
color = rgb(0,0,255) # Color = Blue
}
Sound { # Play Sound
file = "sound/music1.wav" # Sound File Name
}
} # Start the Events Loop
8.9 RingSQLite
Ring 1.0 provided support for ODBC to use any database and provided native support for MySQL.
Now Ring 1.1 provide native support for SQLite database too.
Example:
oSQLite = sqlite_init()
sqlite_open(oSQLite,"mytest.db")
sqlite_execute(oSQLite,sql)
sqlite_execute(oSQLite,sql)
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for x in aResult
for t in x
see t[2] + nl
next
next
see copy("*",50) + nl
for x in aResult
see x["name"] + nl
next
sqlite_close(oSQLite)
We are using the code generator (written in Ring) every day to add new libraries to Ring.
The generator is used to create RingQt and RingAllegro
Also in Ring 1.1 its used to create RingLibSDL.
more features are added like
Set/Get structure members (numbers & pointers)
Using constants
Better Generated Code
See the Code Generator chapter.
We can use Self.Attribute in the Class Region (after the class name and before any methods) to define new attributes.
class Person
name # Define name as attribute if it's not a global variable
address
phone
class person2
self.name # Must Define the attribute
self.address
self.phone
We can use nested braces {} while we are inside methods to access another objects, In this case the current object
scope will be changed while we are inside the brace and Self will point to the object that we access using braces {}. In
this case we can use This.Attribute and This.Method() to access the object that will be created from the current class.
Check the Object Oriented Programming chapter for more information.
Also Check the Weight History Application in GUI Development using RingQt chapter.
Ring 1.1 documentation (800 pages) is better than Ring 1.0 documentation (340 pages)
Many chapters are added for providing better information about the language like
Language Reference
Scope Rules
FAQ
And more!
NINE
The Ring programming language is a free open source product (MIT License).
You can build Ring using CMake or using Scripts (Batch Files or Shell Scripts).
The next steps explains building using scripts.
Build RingODBC
cd ../extensions/ringodbc
buildvc.bat
Build RingMySQL
cd ../extensions/ringmysql
buildvc.bat
Build RingSQLite
cd ../extensions/ringsqlite
buildvc.bat
Build RingOpenSSL
cd ../extensions/ringopenssl
buildvc.bat
Build RingInternet
cd ../extensions/ringinternet
buildvc.bat
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