The Ring Programming Language Version 1.4.1 Book - Part 2 of 31
The Ring Programming Language Version 1.4.1 Book - Part 2 of 31
The next screen shots for simple 2D Games that we will present in the Game Engine Chapter.
Stars Fighter Game
TWO
INTRODUCTION
2.1 Motivation
In Nov. 2011, I started to think about creating a new version of the Programming Without Coding Technology (PWCT)
software from scratch.
I was interested in creating multi-platform edition of the software beside adding support for Web & Mobile develop-
ment. Most of the PWCT source code was written in VFP and the software comes with a simple scripting language
for creating the components called (RPWI). The software contains components that support code generation in pro-
gramming languages like Harbour, C, Supernova & Python.
What I was looking for is a programming language that can be used to build the development environment, provides
multi-platform support, more productivity, better performance, can be used for components scripting & can be used
for developing different kinds of applications.
Instead of using a mix of programming languages, I decided to use one programming language for creating the devel-
opment environment, for components scripting & for creating the applications.
I looked at many programming languages like C, C++, Java, C#, Lua, PHP, Python & Ruby. I avoided using C or C++
directly because I want high-level of productivity more than the level provided by these languages, also a language
behind visual programming environment for novice programmers or professionals must be easy to use & productive.
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Java & C# are avoided for some reason too! I wanted to use a dynamic programming language and these languages are
static typing, Java is multi-platform, also C# through Mono, but the use of huge number of classes and forcing the use
of Object-Orientation, using a verbose language is not right for me. I need a small language, but fast and productive,
also I need better control on the Garbage Collector (GC), I need a better one that is designed for fast applications.
Lua is small and fast, but its avoided because I need more powerful language for large applications.
PHP is a Web programming language and its syntax is very similar to C, this leads to a language not general as I want
and not simple as I need to have.
Python & Ruby are more like what I need, but I need something more simple, smaller, faster & productive.
Python and Ruby are Case-Sensitive, the list index start counting from 0, you have to define the function before calling
it, Ruby usage of Object-Orientation and message passing is more than what I need and decrease performance, Python
syntax (indentation, using self, :, pass & _) is not good for my goals.
All of these languages are successful languages, and very good for their domains, but what I need is a different
language that comes with new ideas and intelligent implementation (Innovative, Ready, Simple, Small, Flexible and
Fast).
2.2 History
In Sept. 2013 I started the design and the implementation of the Ring programming language. After 21 months of
development, In May 2015 the language Compiler & Virtual Machine were ready for use!
After that I spent three months testing the language again, trying to discover any bug to fix, writing better tests, by
the end of August 2015, all know bugs were fixed, Writing many tests and testing automation helped a lot in getting a
stable product.
In September 12, 2015, most of the documentation was written. Before releasing the language I started the marketing
by writing a post in Arabic language about it to my facebook profile page asking for contributors interested in the
language idea after reading a short description, In the same day I got a lot of emails from developers and friends
interested to contribute!
Ring 1.0 is released on January 25, 2016
Ring 1.1 is released on October 6, 2016
Ring 1.2 is released on January 25, 2017
Ring 1.3 is released on May 15, 2017
Ring 1.4 is released on June 29, 2017
Ring 1.4.1 is released on July 11, 2017
2.3 Features
2.2. History 12
Ring Documentation, Release 1.4.1
2.3. Features 13
Ring Documentation, Release 1.4.1
2.3. Features 14
Ring Documentation, Release 1.4.1
2.4 License
2.4. License 15
CHAPTER
THREE
LANGUAGE DESIGN
In this chapter we will learn about the basic concepts behind the language design.
The language is simple, trying to be natural, encourage organization and comes with transparent and visual implemen-
tation. It comes with compact syntax and a group of features that enable the programmer to create natural interfaces
and declarative domain-specific languages in a fraction of time. It is very small, fast and comes with smart garbage
collector that puts the memory under the programmer control. It supports many programming paradigms, comes with
useful and practical libraries. The language is designed for productivity and developing high quality solutions that can
scale.
3.3 Simple
Ring is a very simple language, and has a very straightforward syntax. It encourages programmers to program without
boilerplate code
See "Hello, World!"
The Main function is optional and will be executed after the statements, and is useful for using the local scope.
Func Main
See "Hello, World!"
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Uses Dynamic Typing and Lexical scoping. No $ is required before the variable name! You can use the + operator
for string concatenation and the language is weakly typed and will convert automatically between numbers and strings
based on the context.
nCount = 10 # Global variable
Func Main
nID = 1 # Local variable
See "Count = " + nCount + nl + " ID = " + nID
The assignment operator uses Deep copy (no references in this operation)
aList = ["one","two","three"]
aList2 = aList
aList[1] = 1
see alist[1] # print 1
see aList2[1] # print one
Pass numbers and strings by value, but pass lists and objects by reference. The for in loop can update the list items.
Func Main
aList = [1,2,3]
update(aList)
see aList # print one two three
The language encourage organization, Forget bad days using languages where the programmer start with function then
class then function and a strange mix between things!
Each source file follow the next structure
Load Files
Statements and Global Variables
Functions
Packages and Classes
This enable us to use Packages, Classes and Functions without the need to use a keyword to end these components.
We can write one line comments and multi-line comments The comment starts with # or // Multi-line comments are
written between /* and */
/*
Program Name : My first program using Ring
Date : 2015.05.08
*/
// See "Bye!"
Ring comes with transparent implementation. We can know what is happening in each compiler stage and what is
going on during the run-time by the Virtual Machine Example : ring helloworld.ring -tokens -rules -ic
See "Hello, World!"
Output
==================================================================
Tokens - Generated by the Scanner
==================================================================
Keyword : SEE
Literal : Hello, World!
EndLine
==================================================================
==================================================================
Grammar Rules Used by The Parser
==================================================================
Line 1
Rule : Factor --> Literal
Rule : Range --> Factor
Rule : Term --> Range
Rule : Arithmetic --> Term
Rule : BitShift --> Arithmetic
Rule : BitAnd --> BitShift
Rule : BitOrXOR --> BitAnd
Rule : Compare --> BitOrXOR
Rule : EqualOrNot --> Compare
Rule : LogicNot -> EqualOrNot
Rule : Expr --> LogicNot
Rule : Statement --> 'See' Expr
==================================================================
==================================================================
Byte Code - Before Execution by the VM
==================================================================
PC OPCode Data
1 FuncExE
2 PushC Hello, World!
3 Print
4 ReturnNull
==================================================================
Hello, World!
The Ring programming language is designed using the PWCT visual programming tool and you will find the visual
source of the language in the folder visualsrc - *.ssf files and the generated source code (In the C Language) in the
src folder and the include folder.
The next screen shot from the ring_vm.ssf file (Generate ring_vm.c and ring_vm.h)
The next screen shot from the ring_list.ssf file (Generate ring_list.c and ring_list.h)
The language is not line sensitive, you dont need to write ; after statements, also you dont need to press ENTER or
TAB, so we can write the next code
See "The First Message" See " Another message in the same line! " + nl
See "Enter your name?" Give Name See "Hello " + Name
The next code create a class called Point contains three attributes X,Y and Z. No keywords is used to end the pack-
age/class/function definition. Also, we can write the attributes names directly below the class name.
Class Point X Y Z
We can use classes and functions before their definition, In this example we will create new object, set the object
attributes then print the object values.
o1 = New point o1.x=10 o1.y=20 o1.z=30 See O1 Class Point X Y Z
Instead of using the dot . operator to access the object attributes and methods we can use braces { } to access the
object, then we can use the object attributes and methods.
o1 = New point { x=10 y=20 z=30 } See O1 Class Point X Y Z
When we use { } to access the object then write any attribute name, the language will check the class for any set-
ter/getter methods that will be called automatically.
New Number {
See one # Execute GetOne()
See two # Execute GetTwo()
See three # Execute GetThree()
}
Class Number one two three
Func GetOne
See "Number : One" + nl
return 1
Func GetTwo
See "Number : Two" + nl
return 2
Func GetThree
See "Number : Three" + nl
return 3
After the object access using { } if the class contains a method called BraceEnd() it will be executed!
TimeForFun = new journey
# The first surprise!
TimeForFun {
Hello it is me # What a beatiful programming world!
}
# Our Class
Class journey
hello=0 it=0 is=0 me=0
func GetHello
See "Hello" + nl
func braceEnd
See "Goodbye!" + nl
We can create a list then execute code generated from that list
aWords = ["hello","it","is","me"]
for word in aWords cCode=word+"=0" eval(cCode) next
We can read text files using the Read(cFileName) function and we can write files using the Write(cFileName,cString)
function.
See "Enter File Name:" Give cFileName See Read(cFileName) # Print the file content
The next example presents how to create a class that defines two instructions The first instruction is : I want window
The second instruction is : Window title = Expression Also keywords that can be ignored like the the keyword
New App
{
I want window
The window title = "hello world"
}
Class App
func geti
if nIwantwindow = 0
nIwantwindow++
ok
func getwant
if nIwantwindow = 1
nIwantwindow++
ok
func getwindow
if nIwantwindow = 2
nIwantwindow= 0
see "Instruction : I want window" + nl
ok
if nWindowTitle = 0
nWindowTitle++
ok
To complete the previous example, use read() to get the content of a file that contains
I want window
The window title = "hello world"
Then use eval() to execute the content of that file!. Also, you can update the methods GetWindow() and SetTitle() to
create Real windows using the GUI Library
We learned how to use Natural statements to execute our code and using the same features we can use nested structures
to execute our code.
The next example from the Web library, generate HTML document using the Bootstrap library. No HTML code is
written directly in this example, we created a similar language (just as example) Then using this declarative language
that uses nested structures, we generated the HTML Document.. The idea in this example is that the GetDiv() and
GetH1() methods return an object that we can access using {} and after each object access the method BraceEnd() will
be executed to send the generated HTML to the parent object until we reach to the root where BraceEnd() will print
the output.
Load "weblib.ring"
Import System.Web
Func Main
BootStrapWebPage()
{
div
{
classname = :container
div
{
classname = :jumbotron
H1 { text("Bootstrap Page") }
}
div
{
classname = :row
for x = 1 to 3
div
{
classname = "col-sm-4"
H3 { html("Welcome to the Ring programming language") }
P { html("Using a scripting language is very fun!") }
}
next
}
}
}
The classes that power the declarative interface looks like this
Class Link from ObjsBase
title link
Func braceend
cOutput = nl+GetTabs() + "<a href='" +
Link + "'> "+ Title + " </a> " + nl
After the second line directly, The list [1,2,3,4,5] will be deleted from the memory and we will have a string nice
The programmer can call the function callgc() to force running the garbage collector.
If we have a reference to a variable (when we pass objects and lists to functions), then deleting variables will be
based on reference counting, if no references everything will be deleted, but if we have a reference, the data will
stay in memory.
FOUR
In this chapter we will learn about the changes in Ring 1.4.1 release.
Ring 1.4.1 is a little update to Ring 1.4
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The next functions are updated to display the dialogs on the top of other windows.
SetDialogIcon(cIconFile)
MsgInfo(cTitle,cMessage)
ConfirmMsg(cTitle,cMessage)
InputBox(cTitle,cMessage)
InputBoxInt(cTitle,cMessage)
InputBoxNum(cTitle,cMessage)
InputBoxPass(cTitle,cMessage)
FIVE
In this chapter we will learn about the changes and new features in Ring 1.4 release.
load "mysqllib.ring"
# use MySQL Functions
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load "sqlitelib.ring"
# use SQLite Functions
load "openssllib.ring"
# use OpenSSL Functions ( Hash and Security functions)
load "internetlib.ring"
# use Internet Functions ( Download() and SendEmail() )
If you will use all of these libraries, You can just use stdlib.ring And the stdlib.ring will load odbclib.ring, mysqllib.ring,
sqlitelib.ring, opensslib.ring and internetlib.ring files.
load "stdlib.ring"
Ring 1.4 comes with the Natural Library to quickly define a language that contains a group of commands.
We will write the natural code in a Text file, for example program.txt
File: program.txt
Welcome to the Ring programming language!
What you are reading now is not comments, I swear!
For example When we say Hello to the Machine, It can reply! and when we
say count from 1 to 5 it will understand us, Also if
we said count from 5 to 1 it will
understand us too! You can see the Output window!
Output:
Hello, Sire!
The Numbers!
New NaturalLanguage {
SetLanguageName(:MyLanguage)
SetCommandsPath(CurrentDir()+"/../command")
SetPackageName("MyLanguage.Natural")
UseCommand(:Hello)
UseCommand(:Count)
RunFile("program.txt")
}
We defined a language called MyLanguage, We have folder for the language commands.
Each command will define a class that belong to the MyLanguage.Natural package.
We will define two commands, Hello and Count.
So we must have two files for defining the commands in the CurrentDir()+/../command folder
File: hello.ring
DefineNaturalCommand.SyntaxIsKeyword([
:Package = "MyLanguage.Natural",
:Keyword = :hello,
:Function = func {
See "Hello, Sire!" + nl + nl
}
])
File: count.ring
DefineNaturalCommand.SyntaxIsKeywordNumberNumber([
:Package = "MyLanguage.Natural",
:Keyword = :count,
:Function = func {
if not isattribute(self,:count_times) {
AddAttribute(self,:count_times)
Count_Times = 0
}
if Expr(1) > Expr(2) {
nStep = -1
else
nStep = 1
}
if Count_Times = 0 {
see nl+"The Numbers!" + nl
Count_Times++
else
see nl + "I will count Again!" +nl
}
for x = Expr(1) to Expr(2) step nStep {
see nl+x+nl
}
CommandReturn(fabs(Expr(1)-Expr(2))+1)
}
])
5.5 RingREPL
Ring 1.4 comes with the next functions to convert between Numbers and Bytes.
Int2Bytes()
Float2Bytes()
Double2Bytes()
Bytes2Int()
Bytes2Float()
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Bytes2Double()
Example:
see "Test Int2Bytes() and Bytes2Int() - Value : 77" + nl
r = Int2Bytes(77)
see "Int Size : " + len(r) + nl
see r + nl
see Bytes2Int(r) + nl
see "Test Float2Bytes() and Bytes2Float() - Value 77.12" + nl
r = Float2Bytes(77.12)
see "Float Size : " + len(r) + nl
see r + nl
see Bytes2Float(r) + nl
see "Test Double2Bytes() and Bytes2Double() - Value 9999977.12345" + nl
r = Double2Bytes(9999977.12345)
see "Double Size : " + len(r) + nl
see r + nl
decimals(5)
see Bytes2Double(r) + nl
func main
print("Enter your name : ") ;
Name = getString() ;
print( "Hello : #{Name} ") ;
return ;
div {
classname = :container
div
{
id = "div3"
color = "black"
backgroundcolor = "white"
width = "100%"
form
{
method = "POST"
Action = website
Target = "codeoutput"
input { type="hidden" name="page" value=1 }
Table
{
style = stylewidth("100%") +
stylegradient(3)
TR
{
TD { align="center"
WIDTH="10%"
text("Code :")
}
TD {
html(`
<textarea name = "cCode"
rows="5"
style="width : 100%; ">
See "Hello, World!" + nl
</textarea>`)
}
}
}
Input { type = "submit"
classname="btn btn-primary btn-block"
value = "Execute" }
Table
{
style = stylewidth("100%") +
stylegradient(34)
TR
{
TD { align="center"
WIDTH="10%"
text("Output :")
}
TD {
html(`
<iframe name="codeoutput"
width="100%"
style="background-color:white;">
</iframe>`)
}
}
}
}
}
}
html(template("footer.rhtml",NULL))
}
Ring 1.4 comes with a simple tool that help in porting Qt classes to RingQt.
You will find it in ring/samples/tools/QtClassConverter
Online : https://github.com/ring-lang/ring/tree/master/samples/tools/QtClassConverter
Screen Shot: