DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.

 

Overview

The Phoenix programming language is an interpreted, functional programming language written in Java. The language is relatively simple. There are only two data types: num (floating point decimal) and str (string). There are standard structures such as if, if/else, switch, for, while, and do/while. There is function capability which provides a special argument structure. A function can have left-hand arguments, right-hand arguments or both. For example these are valid function calls: nCr(n, r), (n, r) nCr, or (n) nCr (r). All variables and functions have two different states: local and global. Functions can be overloaded.

 

Phoenix Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is programming environment for the Phoenix language. It provides some basic IDE features such as a console and code coloring. However, it will not have syntax checking.

 

Phoenix Docs is a system for creating nicely formatted HTML pages which document modules written in the Phoenix programming language. The program is simple to use, all that is necessary is to run it on the desired folder, and the output will be created in a separate folder.

 

F.A.Q.

 

How would I run a Phoenix program?

There are three main ways to run a Phoenix program. A Phoenix program can be run from another Java program, by creating an instantiation of an easy to use PhoenixEnvironment class. A Phoenix program can also be run from command line using an executable command. Finally, a Phoenix program can be run from the Phoenix IDE.

 

Is Phoenix faster / better than any existing programming languages?

The short answer is no. The long answer is noooooooooooooooooo. Phoenix is slow and not object-oriented. However, this does not mean Phoenix is without use…

 

Why would I use Phoenix?

Phoenix is written in Java, which means that running a Phoenix program from within a Java application is quite trivial. Phoenix is designed to work as a scripting language within Java applications that want to give users are large amount of flexibility. For example, suppose a programmer is making a game in Java. The programmer wants to create a level editor for the game, and make it as flexible as possible for the user. The programmer can have the user insert small bits of Phoenix code that will perform simple operations in the level, such as initiating traps or creating a temporary pause. Therefore, Phoenix in its principle use is simply an API, a tool for developers.

 

I want to use Phoenix in my application, but I need Phoenix to include more specific functions for my purposes. How do I do this?

This is very simple to do with Phoenix. To run a Phoenix program in Java one must create an instance of the PhoenixEnvironment class and call the run(File) method. However, before running a program one can add modules to the environment. Modules are groups of functions that will be added as built-in functions to each program that is run. It is simple to make one’s own module. Simply define a new class that descends from the AbstractModule class. In this class it is simple to create functions that can be added to the Phoenix environment. These functions serve whatever purpose the application needs.

 

Technical Details

Phoenix Programming Language:

  • Built in Java SE 1.5
  • 70 Classes
  • 5774 Lines of code (Determined by counting new lines; includes blank lines and comment lines)

Phoenix Integrated Development Environment

  • Built in Java SE 1.5
  • Uses IBM Eclipse's SWT (3.5)

Phoenix Docs:

  • Built in Java SE 1.5
  • Produces HTML documentation
  • Command line based.
DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.