The Ring programming language version 1.5.4 book - Part 14 of 185

The Ring programming language version 1.5.4 book - Part 14 of 185

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  CHAPTER SEVEN WHAT IS NEWIN RING 1.2? In this chapter we will learn about the changes and new features in Ring 1.2 release. 7.1 List of changes and new features Ring 1.2 comes with many new features • New Functions • Better Functions • Better Ring Notepad • Better RingQt • Objects Library for RingQt • RingLibCurl • Better Call Command • Using NULL instead of NULLPointer() • Display Warnings Option • Better Quality 7.2 New Functions • PtrCmp() Function is a new function that compare between C pointers like the GUI objects. • PrevFileName() Function is added to return the previous active source file name. • RingVM_CFunctionsList() Function is added to return a list of functions written in C. • RingVM_FunctionsList() Function is added to return a list of functions written in Ring. • RingVM_ClassesList() Function is added to return a list of Classes. • RingVM_PackagesList() Function is added to return a list of Packages. • RingVM_MemoryList() Function is added to return a list of Memory Scopes and Variables. • RingVM_CallList() Function is added to return a list of the functions call list. • RingVM_FilesList() Function is added to return a list of the Ring Files. Example: 105
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  Ring Documentation, Release1.5.4 fp = fopen("ptrcmp.ring","r") fp2 = fp fp3 = fopen("ptrcmp.ring","r") see ptrcmp(fp,fp2) + nl see ptrcmp(fp,fp3) + nl fclose(fp) fclose(fp3) Output: 1 0 Also we can compare between them using the ‘=’ operator Example: fp = fopen("ptrcmp2.ring","r") fp2 = fopen("ptrcmp2.ring","r") fp3 = fp see fp = fp2 see nl see fp = fp3 fclose(fp) fclose(fp2) Output: 0 1 Example: The next function in stdlib.ring uses the PrevFileName() to know if the file of the caller function is the main source file of the program or not. Func IsMainSourceFile if PrevFileName() = sysargv[2] return true ok return false 7.3 Better Functions The find() function is updated to support searching in lists using C pointers like GUI Objects. The type() function is updated to display the C pointers types (like the GUI Object Class Name). 7.4 Better Ring Notepad The Ring Notepad will save the current line number of opened files to be restored when we switch between files. Also Ring Notepad will ask the user to save the file if the file content is changed when the user switch between files. 7.3. Better Functions 106
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  Ring Documentation, Release1.5.4 7.5 Better RingQt RingQt classes are updated to include methods to get events (The code that will be executed when an event is fired). This is necessary to enable/disable events for some time or to get the events information. For example the next code disable an event then call a method then enable the event again. cEvent = oView.oListResult.getCurrentItemChangedEvent() oView.oListResult.setCurrentItemChangedEvent("") FindValueAction() # Call Method while an event is disabled oView.oListResult.setCurrentItemChangedEvent(cEvent) Also the QAllEvents class is updated where we can set the output from the event function to be true or false using a new method added to the class called setEventOutput. Load "guilib.ring" MyApp = New qApp { win = new qWidget() { setwindowtitle("Hello World") setGeometry(100,100,370,250) lineedit1 = new qlineedit(win) { setGeometry(10,100,350,30) setinputmask("9999;_") oFilter = new qallevents(lineedit1) oFilter.setfocusoutEvent("pMove()") installeventfilter(oFilter) } lineedit2 = new qlineedit(win) { setGeometry(10,150,350,30) } show() } exec() } func pMove win.setWindowTitle("xxxx") oFilter.setEventOutput(False) 7.6 Objects Library for RingQt Ring 1.2 comes with the Objects library for RingQt applications. Instead of using global variables for windows objects and connecting events to objects using the object name, the Objects Library will manage the GUI objects and will provide a more natural API to quickly create one or many windows from the same class and the library provide a way to quickly set methods to be executed when an event is fired. Also the library provide a natural interface to quickly use the parent or the caller windows from the child or sub windows. The Objects Library is designed to be used with the MVC Design Pattern. The Objects Library is merged in RingQt so you can use it directly when you use RingQt Example : load "guilib.ring" new qApp { 7.5. Better RingQt 107
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  Ring Documentation, Release1.5.4 open_window( :MainWindowController ) exec() } class MainWindowController from WindowsControllerParent oView = new MainWindowView func SubWindowAction Open_window( :SubWindowController ) Last_Window().SetParentObject(self) class MainWindowView from WindowsViewParent win = new qWidget() { SetWindowTitle("Main Window") btnSub = new qPushButton(win) { setText("Sub Window") setClickEvent( Method( :SubWindowAction ) ) } resize(400,400) } class SubWindowController from WindowsControllerParent oView = new SubWindowView func SetMainWindowTitleAction Parent().oView.win.SetWindowTitle("Message from the Sub Window") oView.win.SetWindowTitle("Click Event Done!") class SubWindowView from WindowsViewParent win = new qWidget() { SetWindowTitle("Sub Window") btnMsg = new qPushButton(win) { setText("Set Main Window Title") setClickEvent( Method( :SetMainWindowTitleAction ) ) } btnClose = new qPushButton(win) { Move(200,0) setText("Close") setClickEvent( Method( :CloseAction ) ) } resize(400,400) } 7.7 RingLibCurl The LibCurl library is used starting from Ring 1.0 for the Download() and SendEmail() functions implementation. In Ring 1.2 more functions are added to provide a powerful library (RingLibCurl) around LibCurl. Example: load "libcurl.ring" curl = curl_easy_init() cPostThis = "page=4&Number1=4&Number2=5" curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_URL, "http://localhost/ringapp/index.ring?page=3") curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, cPostThis) 7.7. RingLibCurl 108
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  Ring Documentation, Release1.5.4 curl_easy_perform(curl) curl_easy_cleanup(curl) 7.8 Better Call Command The Call command is updated to support calling functions from object attributes also (not only variables). For example the next code from the Stars Fighter Game cFunc = oself.keypress call cFunc(oGame,oSelf,Key_Space) Can be written in one line call oself.keypress(oGame,oSelf,Key_Space) 7.9 Using NULL instead of NULLPointer() We can pass NULL to functions instead of using NULLPointer() For example the next code from RingLibSDL SDL_RenderCopy(SDL_ren,tex,NULLPointer(),rect) Can be written as in the next line SDL_RenderCopy(SDL_ren,tex,NULL,rect) 7.10 Display Warnings Option In Ring 1.2 the Ring compiler is updated to include the Display Warnings option (-w) Example: load "stdlib.ring" load "stdlib.ring" compiling the program using the Display Warnings option will display the file duplication warning, While without that option the error will pass silent. This is a warning (not an error) because in large projects you may use the same file more than one time. For example it’s common to start each file with the next code. where the function IsMainSourceFile() is part from the stdlib.ring load "stdlib.ring" if IsMainSourceFile() // Testing ok 7.8. Better Call Command 109
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  Ring Documentation, Release1.5.4 7.11 Better Quality Ring 1.2 is more stable, We discovered and fixed more bugs during Ring usage everyday in practical projects. Some functions are optimized to be faster like the SubStr() function. Also the documentation is more better. 7.11. Better Quality 110
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  CHAPTER EIGHT WHAT IS NEWIN RING 1.1? In this chapter we will learn about the changes and new features in Ring 1.1 release. 8.1 List of changes and new features Ring 1.1 comes with many new features • Better Natural Language Programming Support • Generate/Execute Ring Object Files (*.ringo) • Syntax Flexibility and different styles for I/O and Control Structures • New Functions and Changes • StdLib functions and classes written in Ring • RingLibSDL • Demo Project - Game Engine for 2D Games • RingSQLite • Better Code Generator for Extensions • Using Self.Attribute in the Class Region to define new attributes • Using This.Attribute in nested Braces inside the Class Methods • Better Documentation 8.2 Better Natural Language Programming Support Ring is an innovative language because of it’s compact syntax, smart implementation (small, transparent & visual) and it’s ability to create declarative and natural domain specific languages in a fraction of time. This release add support for calling methods when an expression is evaluated check this example: # Natural Code new program { Accept 2 numbers then print the sum } # Natural Code Implementation 111
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  Ring Documentation, Release1.5.4 class program # Keywords Accept=0 numbers=0 then=0 print=0 the=0 sum=0 # Execution func braceexpreval x value = x func getnumbers for x=1 to value see "Enter Number ("+x+") :" give nNumber aNumbers + nNumber next func getsum nSUm = 0 for x in aNumbers nSum+= x next see "The Sum : " + nSum private value=0 aNumbers=[] Output: Enter Number (1) :3 Enter Number (2) :4 The Sum : 7 for more information see the “Natural Language Programming” chapter. 8.3 Generate/Execute Ring Object Files (*.ringo) This feature enable you to distribute your applications without distributing the source code. Also it makes application distribution a simple process where you get one Ring object file for the complete project (many source code files). Also using Ring object file remove the loading time required for compiling the application. Check the “command line options” chapter to know more about this feature. 8.4 Syntax Flexibility and different styles for I/O and Control Struc- tures Programmers are sensitive to the programming language syntax. Great programmers know how to work using many different styles but each programmer may have his/her favorite style. Each programming language comes with a style that you may like or not. Ring is just one of these languages, but as a response to many programmers asking for a better syntax we decided to provide more options. Also some of these features are very necessary for Natural Language Programming. Example : We have two commands to change language keywords and operators. ChangeRingOperator + plus ChangeRingKeyword see print Print 5 plus 5 8.3. Generate/Execute Ring Object Files (*.ringo) 112
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  Ring Documentation, Release1.5.4 ChangeRingOperator plus + ChangeRingKeyword print see We have new styles (Optional) for Input/Output. Example : Put "What is your name? " Get cName Put "Hello " + cName Example : Load "stdlib.ring" Print("What is your name? ") # print message on screen cName=GetString() # get input from the user print("Hello #{cName}") # say hello! We have new styles (optional) for control structures. Example : While True Put " Main Menu --------- (1) Say Hello (2) About (3) Exit " Get nOption Switch nOption Case 1 Put "Enter your name : " Get name Put "Hello " + name + nl Case 2 Put "Sample : using while loop" + nl Case 3 Bye Else Put "bad option..." + nl End End Example : Load "stdlib.ring" While True { print(" Main Menu --------- (1) Say Hello (2) About (3) Exit 8.4. Syntax Flexibility and different styles for I/O and Control Structures 113
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  Ring Documentation, Release1.5.4 ") nOption = GetString() switch nOption { case 1 print("Enter your name : ") name = getstring() print("Hello #{name}n") case 2 print("Sample : using switch statementn") case 3 Bye else print("bad option...n") } } Check the next chapters:- • Getting Started - Second Style • Getting Started - Third Style • Control Structures - Second Style - May looks like Lua and Ruby • Control Structures - Third Style - May looks like C (uses braces) • Syntax Flexibility Note: All of these styles are provided automatically by the compiler at the same time, It’s better to select one style for the same project (you can create your style as a mix from these styles) for example you can use Put/Get and Braces. 8.5 New Functions and Changes Changed: • get() function : changed to sysget() • sort() function : can now work on list of objects • find() function : can now work on list of objects Added: • clockspersecond() • CurrentDir() • ExeFileName() • ChDir() • ExeFolder() • varptr() • space() • nullpointer() 8.5. New Functions and Changes 114