Running code sample from readme yields `error: expected define, or extern` about envious HOT 4 CLOSED

The thing about the language is that the program consists of functions, so the code samples do not start with a function. If the code was wrapped in a function, the code would work. I could also create a "ghost function" to wrap the code in, but this would not work if the code defines its own functions.

from envious.

Okay, that makes total sense. But now if I try to wrap it in a function like main and begin it with define, I get expected prefix expression. What's an example of a hello world that will compile and run here?

I tried

define main() :: Int = // I know this doesn't return an Int, but you said you didn't have void implemented, so  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
  define add(x: Int, y: Int) :: Int = x + y
  print(add(2,3))

And got that it expected a prefix.

Maybe I just haven't had enough coffee.

from envious.

The first comment is that the types of the function do not add up. As a function, print is not defined yet so that would also not work. Next, the function print returns a Void type. So, the main function should return Void (I believe Void as a type is implemented). The actual error that you are referencing has to do with the parser. The parser looks to the right of the main function and realizes that there is a single expression. The body provided, however, is a define expression or a new function. This is currently not implemented because it requires closures to be implemented, which once again goes back to a GC.

The code sample below should work:

extern print(Int) :: Void // Define an external print function that takes an Int and returns nothing. This will have to be linked later.
define add(x: Int, y: Int) :: Int = x + y // Define the add function
define main() :: Void = print(add(2, 3)) // Create the main function that returns no value whose body is the result of calling the print function.

from envious.

Yep! I can confirm that compiles now. So I'll be extra excited when the TUI shows the output rather than the compiled code, which I know is non-trivial and I know you're working on.

from envious.