Ambient-Oriented Programming

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at:tutorial:basic [2008/07/03 16:20] – * tvcutsemat:tutorial:basic [2011/05/23 13:38] – added tvcutsem
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 </code> </code>
  
-In that case, the //sum// function still accepts an arbitrary number of arguments as long as two arguments are supplied. //a// and //b// are considered as mandatory arguments of the argument list. +In that case, the //sum// function still accepts an arbitrary number of arguments as long as two arguments are supplied. //a// and //b// are considered as mandatory arguments of the argument list. 
 + 
 +The splice operator can also be used to transform a table into an argument list for a function, for example: 
 +<code> 
 +def args := [3,4,5]; 
 +> sum(1,2, @args); 
 +>> 15 
 +</code> 
 + 
 +One way to think about this is that the splice operator splices the ''args'' table into the table of actual arguments. The "rest" arguments do not necessarily need to be the last parameters, for example: 
 +<code> 
 +> sum(1,2,@args,6); 
 +>> 21 
 +</code> 
 + 
 +==== Optional Parameters ====
  
 A function can also declare optional arguments as shown below. Optional arguments can be omitted in a function call. If this is the case, the default expression provided in their definition is evaluated and passed as argument to the function instead. A function can also declare optional arguments as shown below. Optional arguments can be omitted in a function call. If this is the case, the default expression provided in their definition is evaluated and passed as argument to the function instead.
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 AmbientTalk borrows its block syntax from languages like Smalltalk and Self, where the role of the curly braces is played by square brackets, i.e. ''[ args | body ]''. In AmbientTalk, the ''<parlist>'' is only used to denote parameters to the block, not also for temporary variables as in Smalltalk. AmbientTalk borrows its block syntax from languages like Smalltalk and Self, where the role of the curly braces is played by square brackets, i.e. ''[ args | body ]''. In AmbientTalk, the ''<parlist>'' is only used to denote parameters to the block, not also for temporary variables as in Smalltalk.
 </note> </note>
 +
 +
  
 ===== Keywords ===== ===== Keywords =====
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 </code> </code>
  
-However, it is impossible to directly call or define a keyworded function in a canonical style.+It is also possible to invoke keyworded functions using the canonical function application syntax: 
 + 
 +<code> 
 +foo:bar:(1,2) 
 +</code> 
 + 
 +<note important> 
 +Be careful when nesting calls to keyworded functions: a call of the form ''foo: foo: 1 bar: 2 bar: 3'' is parsed as ''foo: (foo: 1 bar: 2 bar: 3)'', not as ''foo: (foo: 1 bar: 2) bar: 3''. It is recommended to always explicitly parenthesize nested keyworded function calls. 
 +</note>
  
 ===== Native Data Types ===== ===== Native Data Types =====
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     table;     table;
   };   };
-  quickSort(table, 1, table.getLength());+  quickSort(table, 1, table.length);
 }; };
 >><closure:sort> >><closure:sort>
at/tutorial/basic.txt · Last modified: 2020/02/09 22:05 by elisag