Hermes Agent
d555071406
Unify beginner syntax while preserving compatibility, repair ownership and parser guards, add verified distribution tooling and VC6 Windows 98 build inputs, and clarify documentation and release status. Preserve DOS build-input line endings and exclude generated binaries/caches.
42 lines
1.9 KiB
Markdown
42 lines
1.9 KiB
Markdown
# Claro's beginner syntax
|
|
|
|
Learn one spelling for each action. Use these same forms in the Quick Start,
|
|
First Hour, numbered lessons, and introductory examples.
|
|
|
|
- Show text: `SAY "Hello!"`
|
|
- Ask for input: `ASK "What is your name?" name`
|
|
- Store a value: `SET score 0`
|
|
- Change a value: `SET score score + 1`
|
|
- Make a list: `SET items LIST`
|
|
- Add an item: `ADD "milk" TO items`
|
|
- Make a choice: `IF condition`, optional `ELSE`, then `END`.
|
|
- Repeat a fixed number of times: `DO 3 TIMES`, then `END`.
|
|
- Visit list items: `FOR EACH item IN items`, then `END`.
|
|
- Define an action: `TEACH greet name`, then `END`.
|
|
- Run an action: `DO greet "Ada"`.
|
|
- Return an answer from an action: `RETURN value`; read it as `RESULT` after `DO`.
|
|
- Save text: `WRITE FILE "note.txt" WITH "Hello"`.
|
|
- Read text: `READ FILE "note.txt" AS note`.
|
|
|
|
## Small rules
|
|
|
|
1. Put one command on each line. Write keywords in uppercase in lessons to make
|
|
them easy to spot; the interpreter also accepts lowercase keywords.
|
|
2. Put literal text in double quotes. Do not quote a variable when you want its value.
|
|
3. Use a simple name such as `score`, `name`, or `items` consistently.
|
|
4. Indent the body of a choice, loop, or action by four spaces for readability.
|
|
5. Close introductory `IF`, `DO ... TIMES`, `FOR`, and `TEACH` blocks with `END`.
|
|
6. Separate function parameters and simple call arguments with spaces.
|
|
|
|
`AS` is still part of commands that name a result, such as `READ FILE`.
|
|
`TO` is still part of `ADD item TO list`. The short forms above do not mean
|
|
removing those words from every command.
|
|
|
|
The optional `REPEAT` loop finishes with `UNTIL condition`, not `END`;
|
|
learn it after the introductory loops. Other advanced commands are outside this
|
|
first learning path.
|
|
|
|
Follow [First Hour](FIRST_HOUR.md) for complete programs and the
|
|
[numbered lessons](../lessons/README.md) for practice. Older spellings still run;
|
|
[compatibility syntax](COMPATIBILITY.md) is only needed when reading older programs.
|