Tour

Small program

void multiplyAndScrem(int a, int b) {

var product = a * b;

screm(a + ' * ' + b + ' = ' + product);

}

multiplyAndScrem(5, 2); // Should screm (5 * 2 = 10)

Key things to note from this program are:

• void is a data type that expects no return value.
• multiplyAndScrem is the name of a function, a function is a way to reuse code without having to necessarily type it all again.
• Everything with in the () after the functions name are parameters, a and b are the names int is the type.
• var is a way to declare a variable without specifying a type.
• screm is birb's way of writing to stdout.
• Everything on a line after // is a comment (ignored by the program).

Modifiers

• final - Can't reassign variable
• const - compile time variable (can't reassign)
• static

caution

Static modifiers are still a work in progress

Data Types

Supported data types yet are:

• bool - true or false.
• class - Encapsulates data for an object.
• double - Birb doubles are 64-bit floating-point numbers as specified in the IEEE 754 standard. 1 bit for the sign, 11 for exponents and 52 for the value itself.
• enum - Enumerated type, used to define constant values
• int - Basic integer type, 64-bit 2's complement.
• List - A collection of dynamic objects with a length.
• Map - Key / Value pairs, key must be a String.
• Source - source code from an included file.
• String - Literals (char array), surrounded by either " or 's.
• var - Allows birb to infer the type

Primitive Types example

String str = "Henlo\nbirb"; // \n is taken as an escape character

String raw = r'Henlo\nbirb'; // \n is taken literally

int length = str.length; // 10

double d = length / 2; // 5.0

bool isGreaterThanFive = d > 5; // false

Class example

class Birb {

String name = "Birb";

int age = 5;

bool isMale = true;

void sayName() {

screm(nest.name); // Birb

}

}

What is nest?

Nest is a keyword used to refer to the current instance.

List example

List list = ["Seeb",10, false];

int length = list.length; // 3

Map example

Map food = {

"veg": ["carrot", "lettuce"]

};

List i = food["veg"];

screm(i[0]); // carrot

Variables

Variables in Birb are Explicitly Typed meaning its type must be declared. To define a variable, specify the type, followed by its name and value.

String foo = "henlo";

What if I don't want to specify a type

Use var to let birb imply the variables type

Descendant scopes in birb will access the most recent declared variable.

Loops

While loop:

int i = 0;

while(i < 9) {

screm(i);

i++;

}

continue is used to jump to the next iteration of a loop, while break is used to stop a loop. A for loop requires an initialization, condition, and change. Separate them with a semicolon ;.

for (int i = 0; i < 9; i++) {

screm(i);

}

info

In both cases the braces {} are only required if you are specifying more than one statement.

Control-flow

If statements in Birb work just like they would in other languages. Just as loops, the brackets are optional unless you are specifying more than one statement.

A switch requires the default case, even if it is empty.

int i = 10;

// if/else

if (i < 10)

screm(i);

else

screm('i is not less than 10');

// switch

switch(i) {

case 10: {

screm("i is 10");

}

default: {

screm("i is not 10");

}

}

// ternary

i == 10 ?

screm("i is 10") :

screm("i is not 10");

Comments

Comments are similar to a majority of other languages; // For single-line and /* */ for multi-line.

// This is a single-line comment.

/*

This is a multi-line comment.

*/

Keywords

assert	enum	nest	throw
break	follows	new	true
case	false	next	var
class	final	noSeeb	void
const	for	return	while
default	grab	static
else	if	switch