Jaf Documentation

Syntax Overview

Jaf uses simple expression-based syntax with C-like operators.

Note: Every expression in Jaf returns a value.

Data Types

Integers

x = 42
y = -10
z = 0

Booleans (Bits)

a = 1 > 0      # Returns 1 (true)
b = 0 == 1     # Returns 0 (false)

Arrays

arr = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
first = arr[0]    # Access element (returns 1)
arr[2] = 99       # Modify element

Functions

Definition

func increment(x) {
    x + 1
}

Function Call

result = increment(5)  # Returns 6

Recursive Function

func factorial(n) {
    if (n == 0) {
        1
    } else {
        n * factorial(n - 1)
    }
}

Control Flow

Conditional Expression

# Returns 1 if positive, 0 if not positive
result = if (x > 0) 1 else 0

While Loop

i = 0
while (i < 5) {
    i = i + 1
}
# Loop returns last expression value (5)

Built-in Functions

length(array)

arr = [1, 2, 3]
len = length(arr)  # Returns 3

print(value)

# Basic output
print(42)                # Outputs: 42
print("Hello")          # Outputs: Hello (when strings are added)

# With variables
x = 10
print(x)                # Outputs: 10
print(x * 2)            # Outputs: 20

# Multiple prints for debugging
print("Starting calculation")
result = x + 5
print("Result is:")
print(result)

Note: print() returns void and is primarily used for debugging and output.

Operators

Example Programs

Debugging with print

func sumArray(arr) {
    print("Starting sumArray")
    total = 0
    i = 0
    while (i < length(arr)) {
        print("Processing index: ")
        print(i)
        print("Value: ")
        print(arr[i])
        total = total + arr[i]
        i = i + 1
    }
    print("Total sum: ")
    print(total)
    total
}

# Usage:
numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
sum = sumArray(numbers)  # Returns 15 with debug output

Find Maximum Value

func max(arr) {
    maxVal = arr[0]
    i = 1
    while (i < length(arr)) {
        if (arr[i] > maxVal) {
            maxVal = arr[i]
        }
        i = i + 1
    }
    maxVal
}

Fibonacci Sequence

func fib(n) {
    if (n == 0) {
        0
    } else {
        if (n == 1) {
            1
        } else {
            fib(n - 1) + fib(n - 2)
        }
    }
}

# Test with print:
print("Fibonacci numbers:")
n = 0
while (n <= 10) {
    result = fib(n)
    print("fib(")
    print(n)
    print(") = ")
    print(result)
    n = n + 1
}

Comments

# This is a single-line comment
x = 42  # Comments can go after code

# Comments are ignored by the interpreter
# Use them to explain your code

Output and Debugging

Use print() for output and debugging:

# Simple output
print("Hello, Jaf!")

# Debugging calculations
x = 5
y = 10
print("x = ")
print(x)
print("y = ")
print(y)
print("x + y = ")
print(x + y)

# Conditional debugging
debug = 1  # Set to 1 to enable debug output
if (debug) {
    print("Debug mode enabled")
    print("Intermediate values will be shown")
}