TODO/User interface toolkit/Script

[done] Remove node casting

Node casting like:

*node:(abstractnode)foo.bar

Is a bad thing for scripter. It is only a usefull thing for parsing, but we can't ask scripter to think as a parser. With a runtime cache, we may remove that node casting.

Note: We use the casting to convert string value of affectation to binary data (according to the typed node). Biggest problem is to do it at runtime, and speed up it with some cache.

When it is done, we can work around to clean up the code, and cache some data to speed up the computation. But ATM there is no slow down, cause the previous code do not use any trick.

[done] Use "(" and ")" and "," as real token

Writing:

    if ( "foo" ne "foo2" ) { ... }

is horrible.

With some work, and if we remove the casting syntax, we can write the more common:

    if ("foo" ne "foo2") { ... }
    call *node:fooo("aaaa", "bbbb", "cccc", "dddd")

Var

Supporting local var and removing "injection". Here we use GLSL-like cast (C++-like constructor ), both look and feel and parsing is easier than the C-like casting. this and root and parent are reserved token var identifying know nodes.

func foo {
    cvar a = cvar("sv_foo")
    node b = this.parent
    node c = root
    node d = node("root.foo.bar")
    node e = node("root." + d@name + ".foo.bar")

    d@color = "0.6 1.0 0.0"
    ...
}

What syntax to check if a cvar exists?

// problem is this syntax will create the cvar, then it exists
cvar a = cvar("sv_foo")

// possible way to only get a cvar, without creation,
// it allow to test the <code>a</code> var with an exists operator.
cvar a = getcvar("sv_foo")

What syntax to affect a cvar to a var (reference)?

cvar a = cvar("sv_foo")
// what should it mean?
// 1) we set the value of <code>sv_foo2</code> to a (then to sv_foo</code>),
// 2) we link <code>a</code> to <code>sv_foo2</code>, then no value change else <code>a</code> reference
a = cvar("sv_foo2")

// a) one solution to force using value (hmmmm not sure ATM this operator do a concatenation of string)
a = "" + cvar("sv_foo2")

// b) same as a) in this case both are possible
a = string(cvar("sv_foo2"))

// c) another solution to force using value
a@value = cvar("sv_foo2")

// d) another way to manage cvar?

This problem also exists when we want to assign a cvar to a node property. The syntax must work for both var or node property. <node> // ? this.spinner.@current = string(cvar("sv_foo2")) // ? this.spinner.@current = cvar("sv_foo2") </node>

Reference problem (not syntax problem but architecture)

We use reference instead of requesting everytime thing by name. Idea of var is to have something readable and faster. It is not hard to use name instead of ref, but it will lose all the power of the feature. A script must be safe, and must not segfault.

There is no cvar listener for destruction. If we assume we store cvar name, there is no problem, and the cost should not be too much.

cvar a = cvar("sv_foo2")
cvar b = cvar("sv_foo2")
delete b // it delete the cvar
a = 4 // segfault...

There is no node listener for destruction. If we assume we store node path, there is no problem, but the cost will be bigger, cause we must parse the path every time we access to a property.

node a = this@createchild("spinner", "fooo")
node b = this.fooo
delete b // it delete the dynamic node
a@max = 10 // segfault...

With listener, we can fix all the var stack without problem. Slower, but safe.

More type

    string a = "aaaaa"
    float b = 1.3
    int c = 1

Param

When "injection" is no more need, we can use named param.

[done] Level 1

Transition can be done with reserved token var param1, param2, param3...

Level 2

func foo {
    param ( a , b , c , d )
    ...
}

Or moving it on the node parsing, if possible

func foo ( a , b , c , d ) {
    ...
}

Level 3

And type it, if possible

func foo ( string a , int b , float c , int d ) {
    ...
}