fa/doc/md/VARIABLES.md

Variables (names) in fa

For variable (name) management there are 4 keywords:

• As -- Maps a value pointer to a name
• Deref -- Dereference a pointer
• Point -- Point a pointer to a new value
• Unname -- Removes a name

You push a variable (name) by referring to its name prefixed with an at (@) sign

As requires one token on the stack and one argument inline:

• On stack: The value
• Inline: The variable (name's) name

So an example:

11 as test

Would create a new variable (name) called test, but it won't be pushed yet to any stack, only initialised

Deref will dereference a pointer, for example if you want to get a value from a pointer:

60 as exit_code
@exit_code deref %exit

If you compile this program, obviously including std/std.fa you will see that the program exists with code 60

Point will point a pointer to a new value, for example if we take our previous example and do this:

60 as exit_code
@exit_code 12 point
@exit_code deref %exit

You will notice how that the program now exists with code 12 and not 60 as @exit_code is pointing to a value 12 now

Unname requires one argument inline, the variable's (name's) name, it needs no prefixing, for example:

unname exit_code

Would make exit_code an unusable variable