Class Definitions

Classes are declared using the class keyword followed by the classname.
The class may have any of the usual access modifiers.
The Superclass inheritance and Interface conformance are indicated with the inherits and implements keywords.

Class Grammar

class <className>  
    [is <AccessModifiers>]
    [has <Attributes>]
    [inherits <BaseClassName> ]
    [implements <InterfaceName> [, <InterfaceName>]...]
    [<DocString>]

    [
    [<Variables>]
    [<Properties>]
    [<Methods>
    [<ClassEnums>]
    [<Sigs>]
    [<Invariants>]
    [<Tests>]
    [<SharedClause>]
    ]...

Interfaces

Interfaces are declared in much the same way except the keyword is interface and method and property bodies are not defined.
Interface hierarchies (SuperInterfaces) can also be specified using inherits

Interface Grammar

interface <InterfaceName>  
    [is <AccessModifiers>]
    [has <Attributes>]
    [inherits <BaseInterfaceName> [, <BaseInterfaceName>]... ]
    [<DocString>]

    [ 
    [<Properties>]
    [<Methods>
    [<ClassEnums>]
    [<Sigs>]
    [<Invariants>]
    [<SharedClause>] 
    ]...

Instance and Class Variables

Instance and Class variables are declared within the class using keyword var.

Instance and Class variable definition Grammar

    var <variableName> [as <Type>]  [is <AccessModifiers>]
        [<DocString>]

    var _<variableName> [as <Type>] = <initialValue>
        [is <AccessModifiers>]
        [has <Attributes>]
        [<DocString>]

e.g.

    var x as String
    var _y as int
    var _ya as int = 47
    var z as int is private
    var t as int = 99
        is protected, shared
        """
        Temporary backup value
        """

If the name is prefixed with an _ its accessType defaults to protected and it is directly accessable from within the class method code.

Without that prefix on the name the variables accessType is public (by default) and it must be accessed from within method code by prefixing the name with either self. or just ..

In either case the default accessModifier setting can be adjusted with an accessModifier clause. All Class and Instance variable names must start with a lowerCase Letter

Class (or static) variables are specified with the access Modifier shared as in is shared e.g.

    var _x = 100
    def tryx( opnd as int) as int
        return _x + opnd

    var y is protected  # default public
    def tryy( opnd as int) as int
        return .y + opnd

    var statX as int = 45
        is shared
    def x 
        print .statX

Properties

++TBDone

Properties Grammar

++TBDone

Methods

Methods are defined using the keyword def

Method Grammar

++TBDone

The initializer or constructor method of a class is a special method called init which is implicitly called when a class instance is constructed. Its responsible for setting the contents of a class instance to an initial state. It doesnt return any value and is not inherited (i.e baseclass initialization must be done with an explicit call to a baseclass constructor).

If an init method is not specified the compiler runtime generates a noArg constructor that does nothing.

Constructor chaining can be done to another constructor in the same class (usually with a different number or Type of args) or to a Superclass constructor (using base.init) - this call must be the first executable line in the init method.

++accessing baseclass methods

Example

#Interfaces 
interface Audible
    def makesNoise as String

interface Mateable
    pro mateName as String

interface Breedable
    inherits Mateable 

    pro childName as String

	
# class declaration - note indentation
class Bovidae
    def diet as String
        return 'Herbivorous Cud Chewing'
     
    def nHooves as String
        return 'four'
  

class Sheep 
    is public, nonvirtual    # public is default anyway
    inherits Bovidae        # Superclass
    implements Audible, Breedable
   
    var _lifeSpan as int = 8
         is shared               # years average
    # or var lifeSpan as int private shared

    var _age as int =1
    var liveWeight as int is private
    var _isAlive as bool
	
	#shared
	#_lifespan = 8  
	
    def init
        _age = 1
        .liveWeight = 2
        _isAlive = true

    def makesNoise as String
        return 'Baaaaa'

    pro mateName as String
        get
            return 'Ram'
        set 
            pass
		
    pro childName as String
        get
            return 'lamb'
        set
            pass

    def age( byNYears as int)
        _age += byNYears
        if _age > _lifeSpan
            _isAlive = false

    def gainWgt( wgt as int)
        .liveWeight += wgt

    def toString as String is new
        return 'Sheep:age=[_age], wgt=[.liveWeight], living=[_isAlive]'
		
    def main is shared
	s = Sheep()
	print 's=[s.toString]'
	s.age(1)