doc/syntax.tex, src/sod-module.5: Abstract out <plain-type> nonterminal.
[sod] / doc / syntax.tex
1 %%% -*-latex-*-
2 %%%
3 %%% Module syntax
4 %%%
5 %%% (c) 2015 Straylight/Edgeware
6 %%%
7
8 %%%----- Licensing notice ---------------------------------------------------
9 %%%
10 %%% This file is part of the Sensible Object Design, an object system for C.
11 %%%
12 %%% SOD is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
13 %%% it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
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16 %%%
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19 %%% MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
20 %%% GNU General Public License for more details.
21 %%%
22 %%% You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
23 %%% along with SOD; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation,
24 %%% Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA.
25
26 \chapter{Module syntax} \label{ch:syntax}
27
28 %%%--------------------------------------------------------------------------
29 \section{Notation} \label{sec:syntax.notation}
30
31 Fortunately, Sod is syntactically quite simple. The notation is slightly
32 unusual in order to make the presentation shorter and easier to read.
33
34 Anywhere a simple nonterminal name $x$ may appear in the grammar, an
35 \emph{indexed} nonterminal $x[a_1, \ldots, a_n]$ may also appear. On the
36 left-hand side of a production rule, the indices $a_1$, \ldots, $a_n$ are
37 variables which vary over all nonterminal and terminal symbols, and the
38 variables may also appear on the right-hand side in place of a nonterminal.
39 Such a rule stands for a family of rules, in each variable is replaced by
40 each possible simple nonterminal or terminal symbol.
41
42 The letter $\epsilon$ denotes the empty nonterminal
43 \begin{quote}
44 \syntax{$\epsilon$ ::=}
45 \end{quote}
46
47 The following indexed productions are used throughout the grammar, some often
48 enough that they deserve special notation.
49 \begin{itemize}
50 \item @[$x$@] abbreviates @<optional>$[x]$, denoting an optional occurrence
51 of $x$:
52 \begin{quote}
53 \syntax{@[$x$@] ::= <optional>$[x]$ ::= $\epsilon$ @! $x$}
54 \end{quote}
55 \item $x^*$ abbreviates @<zero-or-more>$[x]$, denoting a sequence of zero or
56 more occurrences of $x$:
57 \begin{quote}
58 \syntax{$x^*$ ::= <zero-or-more>$[x]$ ::=
59 $\epsilon$ @! <zero-or-more>$[x]$ $x$}
60 \end{quote}
61 \item $x^+$ abbreviates @<one-or-more>$[x]$, denoting a sequence of one or
62 more occurrences of $x$:
63 \begin{quote}
64 \syntax{$x^+$ ::= <one-or-more>$[x]$ ::= <zero-or-more>$[x]$ $x$}
65 \end{quote}
66 \item @<list>$[x]$ denotes a sequence of one or more occurrences of $x$
67 separated by commas:
68 \begin{quote}
69 \syntax{<list>$[x]$ ::= $x$ @! <list>$[x]$ "," $x$}
70 \end{quote}
71 \end{itemize}
72
73 %%%--------------------------------------------------------------------------
74 \section{Lexical syntax} \label{sec:syntax.lex}
75
76 Whitespace and comments are discarded. The remaining characters are
77 collected into tokens according to the following syntax.
78
79 \begin{grammar}
80 <token> ::= <identifier>
81 \alt <string-literal>
82 \alt <char-literal>
83 \alt <integer-literal>
84 \alt <punctuation>
85 \end{grammar}
86
87 This syntax is slightly ambiguous, and is disambiguated by the \emph{maximal
88 munch} rule: at each stage we take the longest sequence of characters which
89 could be a token.
90
91
92 \subsection{Identifiers} \label{sec:syntax.lex.id}
93
94 \begin{grammar}
95 <identifier> ::= <id-start-char> @<id-body-char>^*
96
97 <id-start-char> ::= <alpha-char> | "_"
98
99 <id-body-char> ::= <id-start-char> @! <digit-char>
100
101 <alpha-char> ::= "A" | "B" | \dots\ | "Z"
102 \alt "a" | "b" | \dots\ | "z"
103 \alt <extended-alpha-char>
104
105 <digit-char> ::= "0" | <nonzero-digit-char>
106
107 <nonzero-digit-char> ::= "1" | "2" $| \cdots |$ "9"
108 \end{grammar}
109
110 The precise definition of @<alpha-char> is left to the function
111 \textsf{alpha-char-p} in the hosting Lisp system. For portability,
112 programmers are encouraged to limit themselves to the standard ASCII letters.
113
114 There are no reserved words at the lexical level, but the higher-level syntax
115 recognizes certain identifiers as \emph{keywords} in some contexts. There is
116 also an ambiguity (inherited from C) in the declaration syntax which is
117 settled by distinguishing type names from other identifiers at a lexical
118 level.
119
120
121 \subsection{String and character literals} \label{sec:syntax.lex.string}
122
123 \begin{grammar}
124 <string-literal> ::= "\"" @<string-literal-char>^* "\""
125
126 <char-literal> ::= "'" <char-literal-char> "'"
127
128 <string-literal-char> ::= any character other than "\\" or "\""
129 \alt "\\" <char>
130
131 <char-literal-char> ::= any character other than "\\" or "'"
132 \alt "\\" <char>
133
134 <char> ::= any single character
135 \end{grammar}
136
137 The syntax for string and character literals differs from~C. In particular,
138 escape sequences such as @`\textbackslash n' are not recognized. The use
139 of string and character literals in Sod, outside of C~fragments, is limited,
140 and the simple syntax seems adequate. For the sake of future compatibility,
141 the use of character sequences which resemble C escape sequences is
142 discouraged.
143
144 \subsubsection{Integer literals} \label{sec:syntax.lex.int}
145
146 \begin{grammar}
147 <integer-literal> ::= <decimal-integer>
148 \alt <binary-integer>
149 \alt <octal-integer>
150 \alt <hex-integer>
151
152 <decimal-integer> ::= "0" | <nonzero-digit-char> @<digit-char>^*
153
154 <binary-integer> ::= "0" @("b"|"B"@) @<binary-digit-char>^+
155
156 <binary-digit-char> ::= "0" | "1"
157
158 <octal-integer> ::= "0" @["o"|"O"@] @<octal-digit-char>^+
159
160 <octal-digit-char> ::= "0" | "1" $| \cdots |$ "7"
161
162 <hex-integer> ::= "0" @("x"|"X"@) @<hex-digit-char>^+
163
164 <hex-digit-char> ::= <digit-char>
165 \alt "A" | "B" | "C" | "D" | "E" | "F"
166 \alt "a" | "b" | "c" | "d" | "e" | "f"
167 \end{grammar}
168
169 Sod understands only integers, not floating-point numbers; its integer syntax
170 goes slightly beyond C in allowing a @`0o' prefix for octal and @`0b' for
171 binary. However, length and signedness indicators are not permitted.
172
173
174 \subsection{Punctuation} \label{sec:syntax.lex.punct}
175
176 \begin{grammar}
177 <punctuation> ::= any nonalphanumeric character other than "_", "\"" or "'"
178 \end{grammar}
179
180
181 \subsection{Comments} \label{sec:syntax.lex.comment}
182
183 \begin{grammar}
184 <comment> ::= <block-comment>
185 \alt <line-comment>
186
187 <block-comment> ::=
188 "/*"
189 @<not-star>^* @(@<star>^+ <not-star-or-slash> @<not-star>^*@)^*
190 @<star>^*
191 "*/"
192
193 <star> ::= "*"
194
195 <not-star> ::= any character other than "*"
196
197 <not-star-or-slash> ::= any character other than "*" or "/"
198
199 <line-comment> ::= "/\,/" @<not-newline>^* <newline>
200
201 <newline> ::= a newline character
202
203 <not-newline> ::= any character other than newline
204 \end{grammar}
205
206 Comments are exactly as in C99: both traditional block comments `@|/*| \dots\
207 @|*/|' and \Cplusplus-style `@|/\,/| \dots' comments are permitted and
208 ignored.
209
210
211 \subsection{Special nonterminals} \label{sec:syntax.lex.special}
212
213 Aside from the lexical syntax presented above (\xref{sec:lexical-syntax}),
214 two special nonterminals occur in the module syntax.
215
216 \subsubsection{S-expressions}
217 \begin{grammar}
218 <s-expression> ::= an S-expression, as parsed by the Lisp reader
219 \end{grammar}
220
221 When an S-expression is expected, the Sod parser simply calls the host Lisp
222 system's @|read| function. Sod modules are permitted to modify the read
223 table to extend the S-expression syntax.
224
225 S-expressions are self-delimiting, so no end-marker is needed.
226
227 \subsubsection{C fragments}
228 \begin{grammar}
229 <c-fragment> ::= a sequence of C tokens, with matching brackets
230 \end{grammar}
231
232 Sequences of C code are simply stored and written to the output unchanged
233 during translation. They are read using a simple scanner which nonetheless
234 understands C comments and string and character literals.
235
236 A C fragment is terminated by one of a small number of delimiter characters
237 determined by the immediately surrounding context -- usually a closing brace
238 or bracket. The first such delimiter character which is not enclosed in
239 brackets, braces or parenthesis ends the fragment.
240
241 %%%--------------------------------------------------------------------------
242 \section{Module syntax} \label{sec:syntax.module}
243
244 \begin{grammar}
245 <module> ::= @<definition>^*
246
247 <definition> ::= <import-definition>
248 \alt <load-definition>
249 \alt <lisp-definition>
250 \alt <code-definition>
251 \alt <typename-definition>
252 \alt <class-definition>
253 \end{grammar}
254
255 A @<module> is the top-level syntactic item. A module consists of a sequence
256 of definitions.
257
258 \subsection{Simple definitions} \label{sec:syntax.module.simple}
259
260 \subsubsection{Importing modules}
261 \begin{grammar}
262 <import-definition> ::= "import" <string> ";"
263 \end{grammar}
264
265 The module named @<string> is processed and its definitions made available.
266
267 A search is made for a module source file as follows.
268 \begin{itemize}
269 \item The module name @<string> is converted into a filename by appending
270 @`.sod', if it has no extension already.\footnote{%
271 Technically, what happens is \textsf{(merge-pathnames name (make-pathname
272 :type "SOD" :case :common))}, so exactly what this means varies
273 according to the host system.} %
274 \item The file is looked for relative to the directory containing the
275 importing module.
276 \item If that fails, then the file is looked for in each directory on the
277 module search path in turn.
278 \item If the file still isn't found, an error is reported and the import
279 fails.
280 \end{itemize}
281 At this point, if the file has previously been imported, nothing further
282 happens.\footnote{%
283 This check is done using \textsf{truename}, so it should see through simple
284 tricks like symbolic links. However, it may be confused by fancy things
285 like bind mounts and so on.} %
286
287 Recursive imports, either direct or indirect, are an error.
288
289 \subsubsection{Loading extensions}
290 \begin{grammar}
291 <load-definition> ::= "load" <string> ";"
292 \end{grammar}
293
294 The Lisp file named @<string> is loaded and evaluated.
295
296 A search is made for a Lisp source file as follows.
297 \begin{itemize}
298 \item The name @<string> is converted into a filename by appending @`.lisp',
299 if it has no extension already.\footnote{%
300 Technically, what happens is \textsf{(merge-pathnames name (make-pathname
301 :type "LISP" :case :common))}, so exactly what this means varies
302 according to the host system.} %
303 \item A search is then made in the same manner as for module imports
304 (\xref{sec:syntax-module}).
305 \end{itemize}
306 If the file is found, it is loaded using the host Lisp's \textsf{load}
307 function.
308
309 Note that Sod doesn't attempt to compile Lisp files, or even to look for
310 existing compiled files. The right way to package a substantial extension to
311 the Sod translator is to provide the extension as a standard ASDF system (or
312 similar) and leave a dropping @"foo-extension.lisp" in the module path saying
313 something like
314 \begin{quote}
315 \textsf{(asdf:load-system :foo-extension)}
316 \end{quote}
317 which will arrange for the extension to be compiled if necessary.
318
319 (This approach means that the language doesn't need to depend on any
320 particular system definition facility. It's bad enough already that it
321 depends on Common Lisp.)
322
323 \subsubsection{Lisp escapes}
324 \begin{grammar}
325 <lisp-definition> ::= "lisp" <s-expression> ";"
326 \end{grammar}
327
328 The @<s-expression> is evaluated immediately. It can do anything it likes.
329
330 \begin{boxy}[Warning!]
331 This means that hostile Sod modules are a security hazard. Lisp code can
332 read and write files, start other programs, and make network connections.
333 Don't install Sod modules from sources that you don't trust.\footnote{%
334 Presumably you were going to run the corresponding code at some point, so
335 this isn't as unusually scary as it sounds. But please be careful.} %
336 \end{boxy}
337
338 \subsubsection{Declaring type names}
339 \begin{grammar}
340 <typename-definition> ::=
341 "typename" <list>$[\mbox{@<identifier>}]$ ";"
342 \end{grammar}
343
344 Each @<identifier> is declared as naming a C type. This is important because
345 the C type syntax -- which Sod uses -- is ambiguous, and disambiguation is
346 done by distinguishing type names from other identifiers.
347
348 Don't declare class names using @"typename"; use @"class" forward
349 declarations instead.
350
351
352 \subsection{Literal code} \label{sec:syntax.module.literal}
353
354 \begin{grammar}
355 <code-definition> ::=
356 "code" <identifier> ":" <item-name> @[<constraints>@]
357 "{" <c-fragment> "}"
358
359 <constraints> ::= "[" <list>$[\mbox{@<constraint>}]$ "]"
360
361 <constraint> ::= @<item-name>^+
362
363 <item-name> ::= <identifier> @! "(" @<identifier>^+ ")"
364 \end{grammar}
365
366 The @<c-fragment> will be output unchanged to one of the output files.
367
368 The first @<identifier> is the symbolic name of an output file. Predefined
369 output file names are @"c" and @"h", which are the implementation code and
370 header file respectively; other output files can be defined by extensions.
371
372 Output items are named with a sequence of identifiers, separated by
373 whitespace, and enclosed in parentheses. As an abbreviation, a name
374 consisting of a single identifier may be written as just that identifier,
375 without the parentheses.
376
377 The @<constraints> provide a means for specifying where in the output file
378 the output item should appear. (Note the two kinds of square brackets shown
379 in the syntax: square brackets must appear around the constraints if they are
380 present, but that they may be omitted.) Each comma-separated @<constraint>
381 is a sequence of names of output items, and indicates that the output items
382 must appear in the order given -- though the translator is free to insert
383 additional items in between them. (The particular output items needn't be
384 defined already -- indeed, they needn't be defined ever.)
385
386 There is a predefined output item @"includes" in both the @"c" and @"h"
387 output files which is a suitable place for inserting @"\#include"
388 preprocessor directives in order to declare types and functions for use
389 elsewhere in the generated output files.
390
391
392 \subsection{Property sets} \label{sec:syntax.module.properties}
393 \begin{grammar}
394 <properties> ::= "[" <list>$[\mbox{@<property>}]$ "]"
395
396 <property> ::= <identifier> "=" <expression>
397 \end{grammar}
398
399 Property sets are a means for associating miscellaneous information with
400 classes and related items. By using property sets, additional information
401 can be passed to extensions without the need to introduce idiosyncratic
402 syntax.
403
404 A property has a name, given as an @<identifier>, and a value computed by
405 evaluating an @<expression>. The value can be one of a number of types,
406 though the only operators currently defined act on integer values only.
407
408 \subsubsection{The expression evaluator}
409 \begin{grammar}
410 <expression> ::= <term> | <expression> "+" <term> | <expression> "--" <term>
411
412 <term> ::= <factor> | <term> "*" <factor> | <term> "/" <factor>
413
414 <factor> ::= <primary> | "+" <factor> | "--" <factor>
415
416 <primary> ::=
417 <integer-literal> | <string-literal> | <char-literal> | <identifier>
418 \alt "?" <s-expression>
419 \alt "(" <expression> ")"
420 \end{grammar}
421
422 The arithmetic expression syntax is simple and standard; there are currently
423 no bitwise, logical, or comparison operators.
424
425 A @<primary> expression may be a literal or an identifier. Note that
426 identifiers stand for themselves: they \emph{do not} denote values. For more
427 fancy expressions, the syntax
428 \begin{quote}
429 @"?" @<s-expression>
430 \end{quote}
431 causes the @<s-expression> to be evaluated using the Lisp \textsf{eval}
432 function.
433 %%% FIXME crossref to extension docs
434
435
436 \subsection{C types} \label{sec:syntax.module.types}
437
438 Sod's syntax for C types closely mirrors the standard C syntax. A C type has
439 two parts: a sequence of @<declaration-specifier>s and a @<declarator>. In
440 Sod, a type must contain at least one @<declaration-specifier> (i.e.,
441 `implicit @"int"' is forbidden), and storage-class specifiers are not
442 recognized.
443
444 \subsubsection{Declaration specifiers}
445 \begin{grammar}
446 <declaration-specifier> ::= <type-name>
447 \alt "struct" <identifier> | "union" <identifier> | "enum" <identifier>
448 \alt "void" | "char" | "int" | "float" | "double"
449 \alt "short" | "long"
450 \alt "signed" | "unsigned"
451 \alt "bool" | "_Bool"
452 \alt "imaginary" | "_Imaginary" | "complex" | "_Complex"
453 \alt <qualifier>
454 \alt <storage-specifier>
455 \alt <atomic-type>
456
457 <qualifier> ::= <atomic> | "const" | "volatile" | "restrict"
458
459 <plain-type> ::= @<declaration-specifier>^+ <abstract-declarator>
460
461 <atomic-type> ::=
462 <atomic> "(" <plain-type> ")"
463
464 <atomic> ::= "atomic" | "_Atomic"
465
466 <storage-specifier> ::= <alignas> "(" <c-fragment> ")"
467
468 <alignas> ::= "alignas" "_Alignas"
469
470 <type-name> ::= <identifier>
471 \end{grammar}
472
473 A @<type-name> is an identifier which has been declared as being a type name,
474 using the @"typename" or @"class" definitions. The following type names are
475 defined in the built-in module.
476 \begin{itemize}
477 \item @"va_list"
478 \item @"size_t"
479 \item @"ptrdiff_t"
480 \item @"wchar_t"
481 \end{itemize}
482
483 Declaration specifiers may appear in any order. However, not all
484 combinations are permitted. A declaration specifier must consist of zero or
485 more @<qualifier>s, zero or more @<storage-specifier>s, and one of the
486 following, up to reordering.
487 \begin{itemize}
488 \item @<type-name>
489 \item @<atomic-type>
490 \item @"struct" @<identifier>, @"union" @<identifier>, @"enum" @<identifier>
491 \item @"void"
492 \item @"_Bool", @"bool"
493 \item @"char", @"unsigned char", @"signed char"
494 \item @"short", @"unsigned short", @"signed short"
495 \item @"short int", @"unsigned short int", @"signed short int"
496 \item @"int", @"unsigned int", @"signed int", @"unsigned", @"signed"
497 \item @"long", @"unsigned long", @"signed long"
498 \item @"long int", @"unsigned long int", @"signed long int"
499 \item @"long long", @"unsigned long long", @"signed long long"
500 \item @"long long int", @"unsigned long long int", @"signed long long int"
501 \item @"float", @"double", @"long double"
502 \item @"float _Imaginary", @"double _Imaginary", @"long double _Imaginary"
503 \item @"float imaginary", @"double imaginary", @"long double imaginary"
504 \item @"float _Complex", @"double _Complex", @"long double _Complex"
505 \item @"float complex", @"double complex", @"long double complex"
506 \end{itemize}
507 All of these have their usual C meanings.
508
509 \subsubsection{Declarators}
510 \begin{grammar}
511 <declarator>$[k, a]$ ::= @<pointer>^* <primary-declarator>$[k, a]$
512
513 <primary-declarator>$[k, a]$ ::= $k$
514 \alt "(" <primary-declarator>$[k, a]$ ")"
515 \alt <primary-declarator>$[k, a]$ @<declarator-suffix>$[a]$
516
517 <pointer> ::= "*" @<qualifier>^*
518
519 <declarator-suffix>$[a]$ ::= "[" <c-fragment> "]"
520 \alt "(" $a$ ")"
521
522 <argument-list> ::= $\epsilon$ | "\dots"
523 \alt <list>$[\mbox{@<argument>}]$ @["," "\dots"@]
524
525 <argument> ::= @<declaration-specifier>^+ <argument-declarator>
526
527 <abstract-declarator> ::= <declarator>$[\epsilon, \mbox{@<argument-list>}]$
528
529 <argument-declarator> ::= <declarator>$[\mbox{@<identifier> @! $\epsilon$}]$
530
531 <argument-declarator> ::=
532 <declarator>$[\mbox{@<identifier> @! $\epsilon$}, \mbox{@<argument-list>}]$
533
534 <simple-declarator> ::=
535 <declarator>$[\mbox{@<identifier>}, \mbox{@<argument-list>}]$
536 \end{grammar}
537
538 The declarator syntax is taken from C, but with some differences.
539 \begin{itemize}
540 \item Array dimensions are uninterpreted @<c-fragments>, terminated by a
541 closing square bracket. This allows array dimensions to contain arbitrary
542 constant expressions.
543 \item A declarator may have either a single @<identifier> at its centre or a
544 pair of @<identifier>s separated by a @`.'; this is used to refer to
545 slots or messages defined in superclasses.
546 \end{itemize}
547 The remaining differences are (I hope) a matter of presentation rather than
548 substance.
549
550 There is additional syntax to support messages and methods which accept
551 keyword arguments.
552
553 \begin{grammar}
554 <keyword-argument> ::= <argument> @["=" <c-fragment>@]
555
556 <keyword-argument-list> ::=
557 @[<list>$[\mbox{@<argument>}]$@]
558 "?" @[<list>$[\mbox{@<keyword-argument>}]$@]
559
560 <method-argument-list> ::= <argument-list> @! <keyword-argument-list>
561
562 <dotted-name> ::= <identifier> "." <identifier>
563
564 <keyword-declarator>$[k]$ ::=
565 <declarator>$[k, \mbox{@<method-argument-list>}]$
566 \end{grammar}
567
568
569 \subsection{Class definitions} \label{sec:syntax.module.class}
570
571 \begin{grammar}
572 <class-definition> ::= <class-forward-declaration>
573 \alt <full-class-definition>
574 \end{grammar}
575
576 \subsubsection{Forward declarations}
577 \begin{grammar}
578 <class-forward-declaration> ::= "class" <identifier> ";"
579 \end{grammar}
580
581 A @<class-forward-declaration> informs Sod that an @<identifier> will be used
582 to name a class which is currently undefined. Forward declarations are
583 necessary in order to resolve certain kinds of circularity. For example,
584 \begin{prog}
585 class Sub; \\+
586
587 class Super : SodObject \{ \\ \ind
588 Sub *sub; \-\\
589 \}; \\+
590
591 class Sub : Super \{ \\ \ind
592 /* \dots\ */ \-\\
593 \};
594 \end{prog}
595
596 \subsubsection{Full class definitions}
597 \begin{grammar}
598 <full-class-definition> ::=
599 @[<properties>@]
600 "class" <identifier> ":" <list>$[\mbox{@<identifier>}]$
601 "{" @<properties-class-item>^* "}"
602
603 <properties-class-item> ::= @[<properties>@] <class-item>
604
605 <class-item> ::= <slot-item>
606 \alt <initializer-item>
607 \alt <initarg-item>
608 \alt <fragment-item>
609 \alt <message-item>
610 \alt <method-item>
611 \end{grammar}
612
613 A full class definition provides a complete description of a class.
614
615 The first @<identifier> gives the name of the class. It is an error to
616 give the name of an existing class (other than a forward-referenced class),
617 or an existing type name. It is conventional to give classes `MixedCase'
618 names, to distinguish them from other kinds of identifiers.
619
620 The @<list>$[\mbox{@<identifier>}]$ names the direct superclasses for the new
621 class. It is an error if any of these @<identifier>s does not name a defined
622 class. The superclass list is required, and must not be empty; listing
623 @|SodObject| as your class's superclass is a good choice if nothing else
624 seems suitable. It's not possible to define a \emph{root class} in the Sod
625 language: you must use Lisp to do this, and it's quite involved.
626
627 The @<properties> provide additional information. The standard class
628 properties are as follows.
629 \begin{description}
630 \item[@"lisp_class"] The name of the Lisp class to use within the translator
631 to represent this class. The property value must be an identifier; the
632 default is @"sod_class". Extensions may define classes with additional
633 behaviour, and may recognize additional class properties.
634 \item[@"metaclass"] The name of the Sod metaclass for this class. In the
635 generated code, a class is itself an instance of another class -- its
636 \emph{metaclass}. The metaclass defines which slots the class will have,
637 which messages it will respond to, and what its behaviour will be when it
638 receives them. The property value must be an identifier naming a defined
639 subclass of @"SodClass". The default metaclass is @"SodClass".
640 %%% FIXME xref to theory
641 \item[@"nick"] A nickname for the class, to be used to distinguish it from
642 other classes in various limited contexts. The property value must be an
643 identifier; the default is constructed by forcing the class name to
644 lower-case.
645 \end{description}
646
647 The class body consists of a sequence of @<class-item>s enclosed in braces.
648 These items are discussed on the following sections.
649
650 \subsubsection{Slot items}
651 \begin{grammar}
652 <slot-item> ::=
653 @<declaration-specifier>^+ <list>$[\mbox{@<init-declarator>}]$ ";"
654
655 <init-declarator> ::= <simple-declarator> @["=" <initializer>@]
656 \end{grammar}
657
658 A @<slot-item> defines one or more slots. All instances of the class and any
659 subclass will contain these slot, with the names and types given by the
660 @<declaration-specifiers> and the @<declarators>. Slot declarators may not
661 contain dotted names.
662
663 It is not possible to declare a slot with function type: such an item is
664 interpreted as being a @<message-item> or @<method-item>. Pointers to
665 functions are fine.
666
667 An @<initializer>, if present, is treated as if a separate
668 @<initializer-item> containing the slot name and initializer were present.
669 For example,
670 \begin{prog}
671 [nick = eg] \\
672 class Example : Super \{ \\ \ind
673 int foo = 17; \-\\
674 \};
675 \end{prog}
676 means the same as
677 \begin{prog}
678 [nick = eg] \\
679 class Example : Super \{ \\ \ind
680 int foo; \\
681 eg.foo = 17; \-\\
682 \};
683 \end{prog}
684
685 \subsubsection{Initializer items}
686 \begin{grammar}
687 <initializer-item> ::= @["class"@] <list>$[\mbox{@<slot-initializer>}]$ ";"
688
689 <slot-initializer> ::= <dotted-name> @["=" <initializer>@]
690
691 <initializer> :: <c-fragment>
692 \end{grammar}
693
694 An @<initializer-item> provides an initial value for one or more slots. If
695 prefixed by @"class", then the initial values are for class slots (i.e.,
696 slots of the class object itself); otherwise they are for instance slots.
697
698 The first component of the @<dotted-name> must be the nickname of one of the
699 class's superclasses (including itself); the second must be the name of a
700 slot defined in that superclass.
701
702 An @|initarg| property may be set on an instance slot initializer (or a
703 direct slot definition). See \xref{sec:concepts.lifecycle.birth} for the
704 details. An initializer item must have either an @|initarg| property, or an
705 initializer expression, or both.
706
707 Each class may define at most one initializer item with an explicit
708 initializer expression for a given slot.
709
710 \subsubsection{Initarg items}
711 \begin{grammar}
712 <initarg-item> ::=
713 "initarg"
714 @<declaration-specifier>^+
715 <list>$[\mbox{@<init-declarator>}]$ ";"
716 \end{grammar}
717
718 \subsubsection{Fragment items}
719 \begin{grammar}
720 <fragment-item> ::= <fragment-kind> "{" <c-fragment> "}"
721
722 <fragment-kind> ::= "init" | "teardown"
723 \end{grammar}
724
725 \subsubsection{Message items}
726 \begin{grammar}
727 <message-item> ::=
728 @<declaration-specifier>^+
729 <keyword-declarator>$[\mbox{@<identifier>}]$
730 @[<method-body>@]
731 \end{grammar}
732
733 \subsubsection{Method items}
734 \begin{grammar}
735 <method-item> ::=
736 @<declaration-specifier>^+
737 <keyword-declarator>$[\mbox{@<dotted-name>}]$
738 <method-body>
739
740 <method-body> ::= "{" <c-fragment> "}" | "extern" ";"
741 \end{grammar}
742
743 %%%----- That's all, folks --------------------------------------------------
744
745 %%% Local variables:
746 %%% mode: LaTeX
747 %%% TeX-master: "sod.tex"
748 %%% TeX-PDF-mode: t
749 %%% End: