Mint support 13 built-in types:

• 2 special types:
  • none
  • null
• 4 scalar types:
  • boolean
  • number
  • string
  • regex
• 3 compound types:
  • array
  • hash
  • iterator
• 2 block types:
  • package
  • function
• 2 binding types:
  • library
  • libobject

Mint also support user defined types corresponding to the meta-types class and object.

This is the type of a variable that is not defined yet. As long as a variable use this type, it can still be initialized. The none type causes the defined operator to gives false.

A variable using none can not be used in an operation. It can however be used to represent an optional value not provided.

There is only one instance of none, so var is none always evaluate to true if var is not defined.

This type represent a variable without a value. It can be used instead of a user type that can not be initialized yet.

If a variable using null is used in an operation, it will raise itself.

There is only one instance of null, so var is null always evaluate to true if var was initialized to null.

This type represent a truth value. It can only take two values: false and true. This type is typically used by the control structures.

Most of the operators are applicable to this type.

Unlike the none and null types, it is possible to create as many instances of boolean as there are variables using it. So var is false can not be used instead of var == false and will always evaluate to false.

Example:

foo = true
bar = true
foo := false // foo now gives false, bar still gives true

This type represent a number. It can be created by any of the following literals syntax:

• Decimal integer: 7357
• Hexadecimal integer: 0x1CBD
• Octal integer: 0o16275
• Binary integer: 0b1110010111101
• Float: 735.7

Most of the operators are applicable to this type. The [] operator is also applicable to this type and gives the digit at the given index in the number.

Numbers are signed. The minimum and maximum value representable by a number depend on the system. To use unsigned numbers or numbers with fixed sizes see mint.inttypes.

This type represent a sequence of UTF-8 characters. It can be created by any sequence of characters between two " or ' characters. The delimiter used only change the character that must be escaped in the string to avoid the string termination. Unlike some other languages, a new line can be inserted in a string without an escape sequence.

The following escape sequences can be used in a string:

Example:

str = 'This string contains "double quotes"'
str = "This string contains 'single quotes'"
str = "This string contains both 'single quotes' and \"double quotes\""
str = 'This
string
contains
multiple
lines'

def !(self)

Returns true if the string has no characters; otherwise returns false.

See string.isEmpty.

def !=(self, other)

Returns true if the string is not equal to other; otherwise returns false.

def !~(self, expr)

Returns true if the string does not match the regex expr; otherwise returns false.

def %(self, values)

Returns a copy of the string with format specifiers replaced with the values in the values iterator. If values contains more values than specifiers in the string, extra values are ignored. If the string contains more format specifiers than the number of elements in values, extra format specifiers are not replaced.

A format specifier follow this prototype: %[flags][width][.precision][length]specifier

def *(self, count)

Returns a copy of the string repeated count times.

def +(self, other)

Returns a string which is the result of concatenating self and other.

def :=(self, other)

Assigns other to the string and returns self.

def <(self, other)

Returns true if the string is lexically less than other; otherwise returns false.

def <<(self, other)

Assigns the result of concatenating self and other to the string and returns self.

def <=(self, other)

Returns true if the string is lexically less than or equal to other; otherwise returns false.

def ==(self, other)

Returns true if the string is equal to other; otherwise returns false.

def =~(self, expr)

Returns true if the string match the regex expr; otherwise returns false.

def >(self, other)

Returns true if the string is lexically greater than other; otherwise returns false.

def >=(self, other)

Returns true if the string is lexically greater than or equal to other; otherwise returns false.

def [](self, index)

Returns the UTF-8 sub-string at the specified index in the string. If index is negative, the character position is relative to the end of the string.

The index parameter can either be a number or an iterator. This operator can then be used with a range to extract a sub-string between two positions.

Example:

str = 'looking for this word'
str[12..15] // gives 'this'

def []=(self, index, value)

Replace the UTF-8 sub-string at the specified index in the string with the string value. If index is negative, the character position is relative to the end of the string.

The index parameter can either be a number or an iterator. This operator can then be used with a range to replace a sub-string between two positions.

Example:

str = 'replace this word'
str[8..11] = 'that' // str now gives 'replace that word'

Returns value if index is a number; otherwise returns self.

def insert(self, index, value)

Inserts value at the position specified by index. If index is negative, the position is relative to the end of the string.

The index parameter should be a number.

Example:

str = 'insert this word'
str.insert(12, 'new ') // str now gives 'insert this new word'

Returns self.

def clear(self)

Clears the contents of the string.

def contains(self, other)

Returns true if self contains the sub-string or a match to the regex other; otherwise returns false.

def each(self, func)

Apply the func function to each character of the string.

def endsWith(self, other)

Returns true if self ends with the sub-string or a match to the regex other; otherwise returns false.

def in(self)

Return an iterator on each character of the string.

def in(self, other)

Returns true if self contains the sub-string or a match to the regex other; otherwise returns false.

See string.contains.

def indexOf(self, other)

Returns the index corresponding to the sub-string or the regex other if contained in self; otherwise returns none. Searching forward from index position 0.

def indexOf(self, other, from)

Returns the index corresponding to the sub-string or the regex other if contained in self; otherwise returns none. Searching forward from index position from.

def isEmpty(self)

Returns true if the string has no characters; otherwise returns false.

def lastIndexOf(self, other)

Returns the index corresponding to the sub-string or the regex other if contained in self; otherwise returns none. Searching backward from the end of the string.

def lastIndexOf(self, other, from)

Returns the index corresponding to the sub-string or the regex other if contained in self; otherwise returns none. Searching backward from index position from.

def substring(self, from)

Returns a string that contains the last characters of this string, starting from index position from.

def substring(self, from, length)

Returns a string that contains the length last characters of this string, starting from index position from. If length is none, all the remaining characters are returned.

def replace(self, pattern, value)

Replaces the occurrences of the sub-string or the matches of the regex pattern in the string with value and returns self.

def replace(self, from, length, value)

Replaces the sub-string starting from from of length characters in the string with value and returns self.

def size(self)

Returns the UTF-8 length of the string.

def split(self, sep)

Splits the string into sub-strings wherever sep occurs, and returns an array of those strings.

def endsWith(self, other)

Returns true if self starts with the sub-string or a match to the regex other; otherwise returns false.

This type represent a regular expression. It can be created by a literal following this prototype /pattern/flags.

The pattern is the content of the regular expression.

The flags can be any combination of the following characters including none.

def !~(self, str)

Returns true if str does not match the regular expression; otherwise returns false.

def :=(self, other)

Assigns other to the regular expression and returns self.

def =~(self, str)

Returns true if str has at least one match for the regular expression; otherwise returns false.

def getFlags(self)

Returns a string corresponding to the flags part of the regular expression.

def match(self, str)

If str match exactly the regular expression, returns an iterator of iterators corresponding to the string, the index and the length of the captured texts. The first result is the full match followed by each subsequent matches corresponding to the capturing groups of the regular expression if any. If str does not match the regular expression, none is returned.

def search(self, str)

If str match the regular expression, returns an iterator of iterators corresponding to the string, the index and the length of the captured texts. The first result is the full match followed by each subsequent matches corresponding to the capturing groups of the regular expression if any. If str does not match the regular expression, none is returned.

This type represent an ordered list of values. It can be created by a list of expression between [ and ]. An array can contains values of multiple types.

Example:

a = [1, 2, 3]
b = ['a', ['b', 'c']]
c = ['mint', 5, false]

For an extendible version of this type see container.list.

def !=(self, other)

Returns true if other is not equal to the array; otherwise returns false. The != operator is used to compare each element of the array.

def &(self, other)

Returns an array corresponding to the intersection self and other.

Example:

[ 1, 1, 3, 5 ] & [ 3, 2, 1 ]               // gives [ 1, 3 ]
[ 'a', 'b', 'b', 'z' ] & [ 'a', 'b', 'c' ] // gives [ 'a', 'b' ]

def *(self, count)

Returns a copy of the array repeated count times.

def +(self, other)

Returns an array which is the result of concatenating self and other.

def -(self, other)

Returns an array which is the result of removing each element of other from self.

def :=(self, other)

Assigns other to the array and returns self.

def <<(self, other)

Assigns the result of concatenating self and other to the array and returns self.

def ==(self, other)

Returns true if other is equal to the array; otherwise returns false. The != operator is used to compare each element of the array.

def [](self, index)

Returns the elements at the specified index in the array. If index is negative, the position is relative to the end of the array.

The index parameter can either be a number or an iterator. This operator can then be used with a range to extract a sub-set of elements between two positions.

Example:

a = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
a[1..3] // gives [2, 3, 4]

def []=(self, index, value)

Replaces the elements at the specified index in the array with the elements of value. If index is negative, the position is relative to the end of the array.

The index parameter can either be a number or an iterator. This operator can then be used with a range to replace a sub-set of elements between two positions.

Example:

a = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
a[0] = 0         // a now gives [0, 2, 3, 4, 5]
a[1..3] = [2, 4] // a now gives [0, 2, 4, 5]

Returns value if index is a number; otherwise returns self.

def insert(self, index, value)

Inserts value at the position specified by index. If index is negative, the position is relative to the end of the array.

The index parameter should be a number.

Example:

a = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
a.insert(0, 0)   // a now gives [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Returns self.

def clear(self)

Clears the contents of the array.

def contains(self, other)

Returns true if self contains the element other; otherwise returns false. The == operator is used to compare each element of the array.

def each(self, func)

Apply the func function to each element of the array.

def in(self)

Return an iterator on each element of the array.

def in(self, other)

Returns true if self contains the element other; otherwise returns false.

See array.contains.

def indexOf(self, other)

Returns the index corresponding to the element other if contained in self; otherwise returns none. Searching forward from index position 0.

See array.contains.

def indexOf(self, other, from)

Returns the index corresponding to the element other if contained in self; otherwise returns none. Searching forward from index position from.

See array.contains.

def isEmpty(self)

Returns true if the array has no elements; otherwise returns false.

def join(self, sep)

Returns a string corresponding to the concatenation of each elements of the array separated with sep.

def lastIndexOf(self, other)

Returns the index corresponding to the element other if contained in self; otherwise returns none. Searching backward from the end of the string.

See array.contains.

def lastIndexOf(self, other, from)

Returns the index corresponding to the element other if contained in self; otherwise returns none. Searching backward from index position from.

See array.contains.

def remove(self, index)

Remove the elements at the specified index in the array. If index is negative, the position is relative to the end of the array.

The index parameter can either be a number or an iterator. This method can then be used with a range to remove a sub-set of elements between two positions.

def size(self)

Returns the number of elements in the array.

This type represent an associative list of values. It can be created by a list of pair of expressions between { and }. The pair is separated by the : operator. The left part of the pair is used as the key ans the right part as the value. An hash can not contain the same key twice. The key comparison is based on the type and the value of the keys. If two keys have different types, they are considered as different. Otherwise, the values of the keys are compared. For a user defined type, the comparison of the values has the same effect as the is operator. An hash can also contains values of multiple types.

Example:

a = {1 : 'foo', 2 : 'bar'}
b = {'foo' : 1, 'bar' : [2, 3]}
c = {'foo' : 1, 2 : 'bar'}

For an extendible version of this type see container.map.

def !=(self, other)

Returns true if other is not equal to the hash; otherwise returns false. The in operator is used to compare the keys of the hash. The != operator is used to compare each value of the hash.

def ()(self, key, ...)

Call the function value associated with the key as a member of self and returns the result. Extra arguments are passed to the called function.

def +(self, other)

Returns an hash which is the result of concatenating self and other.

def :=(self, other)

Assigns other to the hash and returns self.

def ==(self, other)

Returns true if other is equal to the hash; otherwise returns false. The in operator is used to compare the keys of the hash. The != operator is used to compare each value of the hash.

def [](self, key)

Returns the value associated with the specified key in the hash. If the hash does not contains key, the key is associated to none and the new value is returned.

def []=(self, key, value)

Replace the value associated with the specified key in the hash with value. If the hash does not contains key, a new entry is inserted.

def clear(self)

Clears the contents of the hash.

def each(self, func)

Apply the func function to each element of the hash. If func take two parameters, the first parameter is the key and the second parameter is the value. Otherwise, the parameter is an iterator with the key as first element and the value as second element.

def in(self)

Returns an iterator on each element of the hash. The elements are provided by an iterator with the key as first element and the value as second element.

def in(self, key)

Returns true if self contains the key; otherwise returns false.

def get(self, key)

Returns the value associated with the specified key in the hash. If the hash does not contains key, none is returned.

def get(self, key, defaultValue)

Returns the value associated with the specified key in the hash. If the hash does not contains key, defaultValue is returned.

def isEmpty(self)

Returns true if the hash has no elements; otherwise returns false.

def remove(self, key)

Remove the elements associated with the specified key in the hash and returns self. If the hash does not contains key, no change is applied.

def size(self)

Returns the number of elements in the hash.

This type allow access to several variables with an iteration context. It can be created in several ways:

• With an iterator literal corresponding to a list of variables or expressions between the ( and ) operators.
• With a generator function using the yield keyword.
• With a generator expression.
• With the range operators .. and ....

Example:

// Using an iterator literal
i = (0, 1, 2)

// Using a generator function
i = myGenerator()

// Using a generator expression
i = for let v in values {
    valueFor(v)
}

// Using a range operator
i = 0..5

Iterators are intended to be used in a loop to iterate over values. To create a persistent list of values, use array instead.

Example:

iterator = 1..5
for let value in iterator {
    process(value)
}

An iterator can only move its context forward. Once an element is discarded, it is no longer accessible. However, an iterator can be cast to an other type like array (with the mint.type module for example) without changing the iteration context.

def :=(self, other)

Walk over the other iterator and move the value of the elements to the variable at the same position in self. If other contains less variables than self, extra variables of self remain unchanged. If self contains less variables than other, the walk over other is interrupted where self has no more element.

Example:

(a, b, c) := (1, 2, 3) // a gives 1, b gives 2 and c gives 3

As an alias, the = operator can be used with a list of variables on the left part. It will automatically create a temporary iterator and use the := operator instead. This is useful to initialize multiple variables on a single line or with an iterator.

Example:

a, b, c = (1, 2, 3) // a gives 1, b gives 2 and c gives 3

def each(self, func)

Walk over the iterator and apply the func function to each element.

def isEmpty(self)

Returns true if the iterator has no more element; otherwise returns false.

def next(self)

Returns the current element of the iterator and move the iteration context forward.

def value(self)

Returns the current element of the iterator.

This type create a unique group of variables and user defined types. It has two main purposes:

• Create a unique group of symbols to prevent name conflicts
• Create a group of features that can work together to resolve a same requirement

It can be created with the package keyword. A package is identified by a name and store each user defined types and global variables. The content of a package is defined between the { and } operators.

Example:

package Example {
    const @value = 5
}

A package instance work like a mix between a user defined type and a global variable. It can therefore be stored in an other package.

Example:

package Example {
    package Values {
        const @value = 5
    }
}

Packages are global and can therefore be used from anywhere in a script once declared. A symbol defined in a package is accessible using the . operator.

Example:

package Example {
    package Values {
        const @value = 5
    }
}

Example.Values.value // gives 5

A package is expandable by reopening it.

Example:

package Example {
    const @value1 = 5
}

package Example {
    const @value2 = 10
}

Example.Values.value1 // gives 5
Example.Values.value2 // gives 10

Packages are also useful to create user defined types to access other types private data.

This type store a reusable piece of script. It can be created with the def keyword. See this section for details on how to define a function. The most basic function definition is def {}. A function can store several pieces of script as long as they have a different number of parameters.

Only 3 operators are applicable to a function:

• The + operator create a new function which is the concatenation of two functions with a different number of parameters.

Example:

min = def (a, b) {
    return a < b ? a : b
}

bound = def (min, val, max) {
    return min < val ? (max > val ? val : max) : min
}

limit = min + bound

• The () operator call the function. A list of expressions can be passed between the ( and ) operators as parameters. This operator gives the result of the function or none if the function does not return a value.

Example:

f = def (a, b) {
    return a + b
}

f(5, 2) // gives 7

• The [] operator gives the sub-function which take the number of parameter passed between the [ and ] operators. If the function does not contain a sub-function which take this number of parameters, none is returned. A variadic function can be retrieved by applying the ~ operator to the number corresponding to the minimum number of parameters of the function.

Example:

limit[2] // gives a function equivalent to min

This type gives access to a binary shared library to call C++ functions defined with the MINT_FUNCTION macro. It can be created with the lib keyword. The shared library path is passed as a string parameter of the keyword. See library.new for more informations on how to initialize the library.

def call(self, func, ...)

Call the function defined with the MINT_FUNCTION macro of the library whose names match the func string. The additional parameters of this method are passed to the C++ function. The result of the C++ function is then returned.

The function must exist in the library.

def new(self, path)

This method is called by the lib keyword. The path parameter is the path to the shared library to use. It use the '.' character as directory separator and has not file extension.

This path must be relative to:

• A path provided by the MINT_LIBRARY_PATH environment variable
• The path to the main module's directory
• The mint libraries installation directory

If the specified library can not be found, none is returned.

This type store a C++ object pointer. It can not be created directly and is mean to be used by the library type.

No operator is applicable to this type.

delete = none

This member is an optional callback to use when the object is deleted. It allow to free the memory used by the pointer.

Example:

testLib = lib('test_lib')
obj = testLib.call('create_object', 1)
obj.delete = def [testLib] (self) {
   testLib.call('free_object', self)
}