The document provides the language grammar for Ring, including statements, expressions, and virtual machine instructions. It defines statements like package, class, func, if/else, for/in loops, and expressions involving operators, comparisons, math, logic, lists, and functions. The virtual machine section describes over 70 instructions for operations on the stack, variables, functions, comparisons, math, logic, lists, control flow, and more.
2. Ring Documentation, Release 1.5.3
Arithmetic —> <Term> [ { ‘+’ | ‘-‘ <Term> } ]
Term —> <Range> [ { ‘*’ | ‘/’ | ‘%’ <Range> } ]
Range —> <Factor> [ ‘:’ <Factor> ]
Factor —> <Identifier> [ {Mixer} ] [ ‘=’ <Expr> ]
Factor —> <Number>
Factor —> <Literal>
Factor —> ‘:’ <Identifier>
Factor —> ‘-‘ <Expr>
Factor —> ‘(‘ <Expr> ‘)’
Factor —> <List>
Factor —> ‘new’ <Identifier>
Factor —> <AnonymousFunction>
Factor —> ‘call’ <identifier> { ‘.’ <Identifier> } ‘(‘ <Parameters> ‘)’
List —> ‘[’ [ <Expr> { ‘,’ <Expr> } ] ‘]’
Mixer —> { ‘.’ <Identifier> }
Mixer —> ‘[’ <Expr> ‘]’
Mixer —> ‘(‘ [ <Expr> [ { ‘,’ <Expr> }] ] ‘)’
Mixer —> ‘{‘ {Statement} ‘}’
AnonymousFunction —> ‘func’|’def’| [<ParaList>] ‘{‘ {Statement} ‘}’
97.7 Virtual Machine (VM) Instructions
Definitions :-
• VM : Virtual Machine
• Stack : VM Stack
• IR : Instruction Register
• PC : Program Counter
• VP : Variable Pointer
• Stack[nSize] : Last Item in the Stack (Last In - First Out)
• VV : Variable Value (We have a Pointer to a variable, And we access this variable value)
(Stack and Variables)
97.7. Virtual Machine (VM) Instructions 1766
3. Ring Documentation, Release 1.5.3
Operation Description
• ICO_PUSHC
Add string from the IR to the stack
• ICO_PUSHN
Add number from the IR to the stack
• ICO_PUSHV
Replace VP in the stack[nSize] with the variable value
• ICO_LOADADDRESS
Read variable name from the IR, push VP to the stack
• ICO_ASSIGNMENT
Stack[nSize-1] VV = Stack[nSize] VV , POP
Stack[nSize]
• ICO_INC
Increment Number in Stack[nSize] by 1
• ICO_LOADAPUSHV
The same as ICO_LOADADDRESS then ICO_PUSHV
• ICO_NEWLINE
Store new line number (debug info)
• ICO_FREESTACK
Remove all items from the stack , nSize = 0
• ICO_FILENAME
Store the source code file name (debug info)
• ICO_FREELOADASCOPE
Free the Scope List of the current Expression
(Jump)
Operation Description
• ICO_JUMP
Set PC to new value from the IR
• ICO_JUMPZERO
If Stack[nSize] is a number = 0 then Set PC to new value
from the IR
• ICO_JUMPFOR
End of for loop
• ICO_JUMPONE
If Stack[nSize] is a number = 1 then Set PC to new value
from the IR
• ICO_JUMPZERO2
As ICO_JUMPZERO but add 1 to the stack (required
for many ‘AND’ conditions)
• ICO_JUMPONE2
As ICO_JUMPONE but add 1 to the stack (required for
many ‘OR’ conditions)
(Compare)
97.7. Virtual Machine (VM) Instructions 1767
4. Ring Documentation, Release 1.5.3
Operation Description
• ICO_LESSEQUAL
If stack[nSize-1] <= stack[nSize] , POP stack[nSize], set
Stack[nSize-1] = 1 else set Stack[nSize-1] = 0
• ICO_EQUAL
If stack[nSize-1] = stack[nSize] , POP stack[nSize], set
Stack[nSize-1] = 1 else set Stack[nSize-1] = 0
• ICO_LESS
If stack[nSize-1] < stack[nSize] , POP stack[nSize], set
Stack[nSize-1] = 1 else set Stack[nSize-1] = 0
• ICO_GREATER
If stack[nSize-1] > stack[nSize] , POP stack[nSize], set
Stack[nSize-1] = 1 else set Stack[nSize-1] = 0
• ICO_GREATEREQUAL
If stack[nSize-1] >= stack[nSize] , POP stack[nSize], set
Stack[nSize-1] = 1 else set Stack[nSize-1] = 0
• ICO_NOTEQUAL
If stack[nSize-1] != stack[nSize] , POP stack[nSize], set
Stack[nSize-1] = 1 else set Stack[nSize-1] = 0
(Math)
Operation Description
• ICO_SUM
Stack[nSize-1] = Stack[nSize-1] + Stack[nSize] , POP
stack[nSize]
• ICO_SUB
Stack[nSize-1] = Stack[nSize-1] - Stack[nSize] , POP
stack[nSize]
• ICO_MUL
Stack[nSize-1] = Stack[nSize-1] * Stack[nSize] , POP
stack[nSize]
• ICO_DIV
Stack[nSize-1] = Stack[nSize-1] / Stack[nSize] , POP
stack[nSize]
• ICO_MOD
Stack[nSize-1] = Stack[nSize-1] % Stack[nSize] , POP
stack[nSize]
• ICO_NEG
Stack[nSize] = - Stack[nSize-1]
• ICO_PLUSPLUS
Stack[nSize] = Stack[nSize] + 1
• ICO_MINUSMINUS
Stack[nSize] = Stack[nSize] - 1
(Logic)
Operation Description
• ICO_AND
Stack[nSize-1] = Stack[nSize-1] && Stack[nSize] ,
POP stack[nSize]
• ICO_OR
Stack[nSize-1] = Stack[nSize-1] || Stack[nSize] , POP
stack[nSize]
• ICO_NOT
Stack[nSize] = ! Stack[nSize]
(Lists)
97.7. Virtual Machine (VM) Instructions 1768
5. Ring Documentation, Release 1.5.3
Operation Description
• ICO_LISTSTART
Start New List in Temp. Memory
• ICO_LISTITEM
Add List Item
• ICO_LISTEND
End List
• ICO_LOADINDEXADDRESS
Stack[nSize-1] = Stack[nSize-1] VV [ Stack[nSize] ] ,
POP stack[nSize]
(Functions)
Operation Description
• ICO_LOADFUNC
Find function
• ICO_CALL
Call function
• ICO_RETURN
Return from function
• ICO_RETNULL
Return NULl from function
• ICO_RETFROMEVAL
Return after eval()
• ICO_RETITEMREF
Return the list item reference - not the value
• ICO_NEWFUNC
Start new function
• ICO_BLOCKFLAG
Flag to determine where to jump later (after
ICO_RETURN)
• ICO_FUNCEXE
Start executing function
• ICO_ENDFUNCEXE
End function execution
• ICO_ANONYMOUS
Anonymous function
(User Interface)
Operation Description
• ICO_PRINT
Print value to the standard output
• ICO_GIVE
Get input from the keyboard
(End Program/Loop)
97.7. Virtual Machine (VM) Instructions 1769
6. Ring Documentation, Release 1.5.3
Operation Description
• ICO_BYE
End execution of VM
• ICO_EXITMARK
Place to exit to from a loop
• ICO_POPEXITMARK
Remove exit mark
• ICO_EXIT
Break from one loop or more
• ICO_LOOP
Continue to next loop
(For Better Performance)
Operation Description
• ICO_PUSHP
Push pointer to the stack
• ICO_INCP
Increment variable value using pointer
• ICO_PUSHPV
Push value of variable using variable pointer
• ICO_INCJUMP
Increment then jump
• ICO_INCPJUMP
Increment using pointer then jump
• ICO_JUMPVARLENUM
Jump if variable value is <= numeric value
• ICO_JUMPVARPLENUM
Jump if variable value (using pointer) <= numeric value
• ICO_LOADFUNCP
Push function pointer
• ICO_PUSHPLOCAL
Push pointer to local variable
• ICO_INCLPJUMP
Increment value using pointer to local variable then
jump
• ICO_JUMPVARLPLENUM
Jump if the variable value (using pointer) <= numeric
value
• ICO_INCPJUMPSTEP1
Increment value using variable pointer then jump (for
loop step = 1)
• ICO_JUMPVARPLENUMSTEP1
Increment value using variable pointer then jump (for
loop step = 1)
(Try-Catch-Done)
97.7. Virtual Machine (VM) Instructions 1770
7. Ring Documentation, Release 1.5.3
Operation Description
• ICO_TRY
Start try region
• ICO_DONE
End try region
(Duplicate and Range)
Operation Description
• ICO_DUPLICATE
Duplicate stack value
• ICO_RANGE
Create list from value to value
(OOP)
Operation Description
• ICO_NEWOBJ
Create new object, get class name from the IR, push ob-
ject pointer to the stack.
• ICO_SETSCOPE
Called after creating new object, set the active scope to
be the object scope.
• ICO_LOADSUBADDRESS
Get object attribute, push the pointer to the stack.
• ICO_LOADMETHOD
Find object method
• ICO_AFTERCALLMETHOD
Used after calling a method - normal case
• ICO_AFTERCALLMETHOD2
Used after calling a method - second case
• ICO_NEWCLASS
Start new class region
• ICO_BRACESTART
Open brace
• ICO_BRACEEND
End brace
• ICO_IMPORT
Import package
• ICO_PRIVATE
start private attributes region
• ICO_SETPROPERTY
set attribute value - check for setter.
• ICO_CALLCLASSINIT
call call init() method.
(Other)
97.7. Virtual Machine (VM) Instructions 1771
8. Ring Documentation, Release 1.5.3
Operation Description
• ICO_SETREFERENCE
Copy by reference
• ICO_KILLREFERENCE
Remove reference
• ICO_ASSIGNMENTPOINTER
Determine the left side variable
• ICO_BEFOREEQUAL
Determine operators like += , -= , ... etc
(Bitwise Operators)
Operation Description
• ICO_BITAND
Stack[nSize-1] = Stack[nSize-1] & Stack[nSize] , POP
stack[nSize]
• ICO_BITOR
Stack[nSize-1] = Stack[nSize-1] | Stack[nSize] , POP
stack[nSize]
• ICO_BITXOR
Stack[nSize-1] = Stack[nSize-1] ^ Stack[nSize] , POP
stack[nSize]
• ICO_BITNOT
Stack[nSize] = ! Stack[nSize]
• ICO_BITSHL
Stack[nSize-1] = Stack[nSize-1] << Stack[nSize] , POP
stack[nSize]
• ICO_BITSHR
Stack[nSize-1] = Stack[nSize-1] >> Stack[nSize] , POP
stack[nSize]
(For Step)
Operation Description
• ICO_STEPNUMBER
Determine step number in for loop
• ICO_POPSTEP
POP step number from steps stack
• ICO_LOADAFIRST
Load the first address of variable name
97.7. Virtual Machine (VM) Instructions 1772
9. CHAPTER
NINETYEIGHT
RESOURCES
In this section you will find resources about the language
98.1 Ring Language Website
For news about the language check the website
http://ring-lang.net
http://ring-lang.sf.net
98.2 Ring Group
For questions use the Ring Group (English)
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/ring-lang
98.3 Contact the Authors
Name : Eng. Mahmoud Samir Fayed
Country : Egypt
Email : msfclipper@yahoo.com
Facebook : https://facebook.com/mahmoudfayed1986
LinkedIn : https://sa.linkedin.com/in/mahmoudfayed1986
Name : Dr. Atif M. Alamri
Country : Saudi Arabia
Email : atif@ksu.edu.sa
LinkedIn : https://sa.linkedin.com/in/dr-atif-alamri-8b341747
Ring Team : http://ring-lang.sourceforge.net/team.html
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10. INDEX
3D Cube and Texture
Using RingOpenGL and RingAllegro for 3D Graph-
ics, 548
Access List Items by String Index
Lists, 193
Access Objects Using Braces
Object Oriented Programming, 270
Access String Letters
Strings, 195
Accessing the class attributes from braces inside class
methods
Scope Rules, 695
Add Items
Lists, 187
addattribute()
Reflection and Meta-programming, 297
AddDays()
Date and Time, 203
Adding code to the generated code
Code Generator, 780
Adding Hyperlink to QLabel
Desktop and Mobile Development, 599
addmethod()
Reflection and Meta-programming, 297
Analog Clock
Applications developed in little hours, 6
Animate Class
Game Engine for 2D Games, 451
Animate Events
Game Engine for 2D Games, 462
Animation
Game Engine for 2D Games, 456
Animation and Functions
Game Engine for 2D Games, 457
Anonymous and Nested Functions
Functional Programming, 283
Application Class
Web Development (CGI Library), 414
Applications
How to contribute?, 128
Applications developed in little hours
Analog Clock, 6
Calculator Application, 10
FetchStockData Application, 3
Fifteen Puzzle Game 2, 4
Google API Shortener Application, 5
Innovative, 19
Introduction, 1
Practical, 20
Quotes about Ring, 1
Samples in this book, 13
Squares Puzzle Game, 8
TicTacToe Game, 7
Video-Music-Player Application, 9
Werdy Application, 12
Windows StartUp Manager Application, 11
apppath()
Stdlib Functions, 304
Arithmetic Operators
Operators, 154
Ascii()
Data Type, 211
Assert()
Eval() and Debugging, 237
Assignment Operators
Operators, 155
attributes()
Reflection and Meta-programming, 294
Better Call Command
What is new in Ring 1.2?, 108
Better Code Generator for Extensions
What is new in Ring 1.1?, 118
What is new in Ring 1.5?, 60
Better Documentation
What is new in Ring 1.1?, 118
Better Documentation Generator for Extensions
What is new in Ring 1.5?, 61
Better Functions
What is new in Ring 1.2?, 105
Better Loop|Exit Command
What is new in Ring 1.3?, 99
Better Natural Language Programming Support
What is new in Ring 1.1?, 110
Better Objects Library
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