Stack Language Specification¶

Version: 0.8.2
Status: Draft Specification
Changes:

• 0.5 (AI)

  1. Escape sequences - Added a complete list of escape sequences for string literals
  2. Type Tuples - Defined them as function signatures representing stack effects
  3. Control flow TokenStrings - Clarified that if, while, match, etc. use TokenStrings
  4. Generic constructs - Clarified that generics need trait constraints when operations are performed
  5. Stack manipulation traits - Combined into a single Stackable trait
  6. Size trait - Added proper definition inheriting from Addable, Comparable, and Convertible
  7. Empty traits - Clarified that traits can be empty (especially when used with inheritance)
  8. Trait inheritance - Fixed syntax to require both inher and trait declarations
  9. Array combinators - Clarified that the functions inside parse their TokenStrings
  10. :: in TokenStrings - Clarified it should NOT be used in trait/impl contexts

• 0.5.1 (Human)

  1. Created TODOs
  2. Made various corrections (not everything was corrected)
  3. Reviewed and corrected some code blocks
  4. Made a few adjustments manually

• 0.6 (AI)

  1. Operator descriptions - Added natural language descriptions for all built-in operators
  2. Operators vs Functions - Clarified distinction and naming rules
  3. Generic trait syntax - Documented <> syntax for generic traits
  4. Generic trait inheritance - Clarified rules for inheriting from generic traits
  5. Code block types - Distinguished actual language definitions from examples
  6. Trait appendix - Created comprehensive trait definitions appendix
  7. TokenString contexts - Listed all control flow operators and their parsing behavior
  8. Lambda operator - Added specification for lambda operator
  9. Type parameter enforcement - Documented current parsing behavior
  10. Identifier literal requirements - Specified :: rules for different contexts
  11. Trait implementation rules - Clarified implementation semantics
  12. Type conversions - Changed to explicit conversion functions
  13. Memory management - Moved to appendix as future feature
  14. Module system - Added appendix entry for future imports
  15. Examples section - Moved to appendix
  16. Syntax summary - Moved to appendix and expanded

• 0.6.1 (AI)

  1. Variadic arguments - Decision: Use array syntax for variable arguments (no special variadic syntax yet)
  2. Inheritance before trait - Decision: Yes, inheritance declarations must come before trait definition
  3. inher operator - Decision: No, merge inheritance into trait operator (removed inher)
  4. Separate inher vs impl - Decision: Keep them separate (impl is for implementations only)

• 0.6.2 (Human)

  1. Created TODOs
  2. Made various corrections (not everything was corrected)
  3. Reviewed and corrected some code blocks
  4. Made a few adjustments manually
  5. Reversed removing inher

• 0.7 (AI)

  1. Operator definition - Clarified that operators can be user/library defined via trait implementation
  2. Generic function syntax - Fixed to use trait constraints in type tuple, not generic parameters
  3. Variable arguments with Iterable - Changed array syntax to Iterable trait for variable args
  4. Example classifications - Cleaned up "Actual Language Definitions" vs examples distinction
  5. Struct field access - Clarified that get and set consume their arguments
  6. Section 6 rename - Renamed "Operators (Postfix)" to "Built-in Operators"
  7. Module syntax - Added :: prefix for module imports
  8. Module alias options - Added multiple alias syntax options

• 0.7.1 (Human)

  1. Formatting changes

• 0.7.2 (Human)

  1. Removed AI editing restrictions of reviewed code blocks

• 0.8 (AI)

  1. Document reorganization - Restructured for user-focused learning
  2. Section consolidation - Moved implementation details to appendices
  3. Minimal duplication - Added cross-references instead of repeating content
  4. Shorter sections - Split large sections into focused subsections
  5. New appendices - Added Standard Library and Operator references
  6. Tutorial content - Added beginner tutorials to Appendix G
  7. Trait reference - Consolidated all trait definitions in Appendix B
  8. Grammar simplification - Referenced Implementable trait instead of repeating

• 0.8.1 (Human)

  1. Added links

• 0.8.2 (AI)

  1. Constants - Added constant definition syntax and semantics
  2. Enhanced literals - Added underscore separators, character literals, octal syntax
  3. Mathematical functions - Added sqrt, abs, trig functions, rounding, min/max
  4. Randomness - Added rand and seed operators
  5. Array enhancements - Added typed array syntax and arrays of structs
  6. Collection functions - Added zip, enumerate, sum, mean, foldl, foldr
  7. String utilities - Added replace, trim, find, starts_with, ends_with, format
  8. Testing support - Added assert operator for inline testing
  9. Reflection operators - Added type_of and implements for runtime introspection
  10. Compiler directives - Added mention of implementation-specific directives
  11. Type reference - Added Appendix H with complete type reference
  12. Math trait - Added comprehensive Math trait to Appendix B
  13. Overflow behavior - Documented integer wrap and float IEEE behavior
  14. Grammar updates - Expanded Appendix D with new syntax forms
  15. Cross-references - Updated all references to include new operators and functions