The document discusses using the Ring programming language to create natural language programming. It provides examples of how to define classes and methods to parse and execute code that resembles natural language statements. Key aspects covered include changing keywords and operators, handling expressions, errors and multiple statements through various class methods. The goal is to demonstrate how to build programming languages based on natural language syntax.

1. Ring Documentation, Release 1.9
x=10
y=20
z=30
}
}
Class Container
aObjs = []
point
func getpoint
aObjs + new Point
return aObjs[len(aObjs)]
Class Point x y z
func braceend
see "3D Point" + nl + x + nl + y + nl + z + nl
Output
3D Point
10
20
30
49.5. More beautiful Code 429

2. CHAPTER
FIFTY
NATURAL LANGUAGE PROGRAMMING
Using the Ring programming language, we can create Natural programming languages based on classes and objects.
50.1 History
In 2010, I developed a new programming language called Supernova (developed using PWCT). This language uses
a code that looks similar to Natural Language statements to create simple GUI applications. Now after five years, In
the Ring programming language, we can get similar results, but now we have the ability to create/use code similar to
Natural language statements in any domain that we like or need.
The Ring programming language comes with the Supernova spirit, but with more generalization and with mix of other
languages spirits.
50.2 Example
The next example presents how to create a class that define two instructions
The first instruction is : I want window
The second instruction is : Window title = <expr>
Also keywords that can be ignored like the ‘the’ keyword
New App
{
I want window
The window title = "hello world"
}
Class App
# Attributes for the instruction I want window
i want window
nIwantwindow = 0
# Attributes for the instruction Window title
# Here we don't define the window attribute again
title
nWindowTitle = 0
# Keywords to ignore, just give them any value
the=0
func geti
430

3. Ring Documentation, Release 1.9
if nIwantwindow = 0
nIwantwindow++
ok
func getwant
if nIwantwindow = 1
nIwantwindow++
ok
func getwindow
if nIwantwindow = 2
nIwantwindow= 0
see "Instruction : I want window" + nl
ok
if nWindowTitle = 0
nWindowTitle++
ok
func settitle cValue
if nWindowTitle = 1
nWindowTitle=0
see "Instruction : Window Title = " + cValue + nl
ok
Output:
Instruction : I want window
Instruction : Window Title = hello world
50.3 Change the Ring Keyword ‘And’
What if we want to connect between the two instructions using ‘and’
We have a problem because in Ring ‘and’ is a keyword
We can change that using the ChangeRingKeyword command.
Syntax:
ChangeRingKeyword <oldkeyword> <newkeyword>
Note: remember to restore the keyword again
Tip: The ChangeRingKeyword command is executed in the scanner stage by the compiler (before parsing).
Example:
ChangeRingKeyword and _and
New App
{
I want window and the window title = "hello world"
}
Class App
50.3. Change the Ring Keyword ‘And’ 431

4. Ring Documentation, Release 1.9
# Attributes for the instruction I want window
i want window
nIwantwindow = 0
# Attributes for the instruction Window title
# Here we don't define the window attribute again
title
nWindowTitle = 0
# Keywords to ignore, just give them any value
the=0 and=0
ChangeRingKeyword _and and
func geti
if nIwantwindow = 0
nIwantwindow++
ok
func getwant
if nIwantwindow = 1
nIwantwindow++
ok
func getwindow
if nIwantwindow = 2
nIwantwindow= 0
see "Instruction : I want window" + nl
ok
if nWindowTitle = 0
nWindowTitle++
ok
func settitle cValue
if nWindowTitle = 1
nWindowTitle=0
see "Instruction : Window Title = " + cValue + nl
ok
func getand
see "Using : and" + nl
Output:
Instruction : I want window
Using : and
Instruction : Window Title = hello world
50.4 Change the Ring Operator ‘+’
What if we want to define a new behavior for any operator like the “+” operator.
We can do this change using the ChangeRingOperator command to hide operator (change it’s name)
Then we can use the operator as identifier that we can handle it’s behaviour
Syntax:
50.4. Change the Ring Operator ‘+’ 432

5. Ring Documentation, Release 1.9
ChangeRingOperator <oldoperator> <newoperator>
Note: remember to restore the operator again
Tip: The ChangeRingOperator command is executed in the scanner stage by the compiler (before parsing).
Example:
ChangeRingOperator + _+
New App {
+
}
Class App
+
func get+
see "Plus operator"
ChangeRingOperator _+ +
Output:
Plus operator
50.5 Change the ‘=’ operator to ‘is’
Example:
ChangeRingKeyword and _and
ChangeRingOperator = is
New App
{
I want window and the window title is "hello world"
}
ChangeRingOperator is =
Class App
# Attributes for the instruction I want window
i want window
nIwantwindow = 0
# Attributes for the instruction Window title
# Here we don't define the window attribute again
title
nWindowTitle = 0
# Keywords to ignore, just give them any value
the=0 and=0
ChangeRingKeyword _and and
func geti
if nIwantwindow = 0
50.5. Change the ‘=’ operator to ‘is’ 433

6. Ring Documentation, Release 1.9
nIwantwindow++
ok
func getwant
if nIwantwindow = 1
nIwantwindow++
ok
func getwindow
if nIwantwindow = 2
nIwantwindow= 0
see "Instruction : I want window" + nl
ok
if nWindowTitle = 0
nWindowTitle++
ok
func settitle cValue
if nWindowTitle = 1
nWindowTitle=0
see "Instruction : Window Title = " + cValue + nl
ok
50.6 Using Eval() with our Natural Code
Example:
func Main
cProgram = ' I want window and the window title is "hello world" '
MyLanguage(cProgram)
Func MyLanguage cCode
# We add to the code the instructions that change keywords and operators
# Because Eval() uses a new Compiler Object (the original keywords and operatos).
cCode = '
ChangeRingKeyword and _and
ChangeRingOperator = is
' + cCode
New App
{
eval(cCode)
}
Class App
# Attributes for the instruction I want window
i want window
nIwantwindow = 0
# Attributes for the instruction Window title
# Here we don't define the window attribute again
50.6. Using Eval() with our Natural Code 434

7. Ring Documentation, Release 1.9
title
nWindowTitle = 0
# Keywords to ignore, just give them any value
the=0
ChangeRingKeyword and _and
and=0
ChangeRingKeyword _and and
func geti
if nIwantwindow = 0
nIwantwindow++
ok
func getwant
if nIwantwindow = 1
nIwantwindow++
ok
func getwindow
if nIwantwindow = 2
nIwantwindow= 0
see "Instruction : I want window" + nl
ok
if nWindowTitle = 0
nWindowTitle++
ok
func settitle cValue
if nWindowTitle = 1
nWindowTitle=0
see "Instruction : Window Title = " + cValue + nl
ok
50.7 BraceStart and BraceEnd Methods
We can write code that will be executed before/after using { }
Example:
o1 = new test {
see "Hello" + nl
}
o1 {}
class test
func bracestart
see "start" + nl
func braceend
see "end" + nl
Output:
50.7. BraceStart and BraceEnd Methods 435

8. Ring Documentation, Release 1.9
start
Hello
end
start
end
50.8 BraceExprEval Method
The next example demonstrates how to use the “BraceExprEval” method to get expressions in Natural code.
Example:
new natural {
create 5
}
class natural
create=0
lkeyword = false
func braceexpreval r
if lkeyword lkeyword=false return ok
see "expr eval" + nl
see "type: " + type(r) see nl
see "value : " see r see nl
func getcreate
lkeyword = true
see "create" + nl
Output:
create
expr eval
type: NUMBER
value : 5
50.9 Real Natural Code
The next example is a more advanced example
# Natural Code
new program {
Accept 2 numbers then print the sum
}
# Natural Code Implementation
class program
# Keywords
Accept=0 numbers=0 then=0 print=0 the=0 sum=0
# Execution
func braceexpreval x
value = x
func getnumbers
for x=1 to value
see "Enter Number ("+x+") :" give nNumber
50.8. BraceExprEval Method 436

9. Ring Documentation, Release 1.9
aNumbers + nNumber
next
func getsum
nSUm = 0
for x in aNumbers nSum+= x next
see "The Sum : " + nSum
private
value=0 aNumbers=[]
Output:
Enter Number (1) :3
Enter Number (2) :4
The Sum : 7
50.10 BraceError() Method
The next examples demonstrates how to use the “BraceError” method to handle errors when accessing the object using
braces {}.
Example:
func main
o1 = new point {
x=10 y=20 z=30
TEST
SEE test
}
class point x y z
func braceerror
see "Handle Error!" + nl
SEE "Message :" + cCatchError + nl
if ( left(cCatchError,11) = "Error (R24)" ) and not isattribute(self,"test")
see "add attribute" + nl
addattribute(self,"test")
test = 10
ok
see "done" + nl
return
Output:
Handle Error!
Message :Error (R24) : Using uninitialized variable : test
add attribute
done
10
Example:
new point {
x=10 y=20 z=30
test()
see "mmm..." + NL
}
50.10. BraceError() Method 437

10. Ring Documentation, Release 1.9
class point x y z
func braceerror
see "Handle Error!" + nl
see "Message :" + cCatchError + nl
see self
see "Done" + NL
Output:
Handle Error!
Message :Error (R3) : Calling Function without definition !: test
x: 10.000000
y: 20.000000
z: 30.000000
Done
mmm...
50.11 Clean Natural Code
Instead of typing the literal as “literal” we can accept the words directly.
Example:
The next example accept hello world instead of “hello world”
But this example uses braceend() to check the end of the instruction
This means that this class process only one natural statement that end with literal.
ChangeRingKeyword and _and
New App
{
I want window and the window title is hello world
}
Class App
# Attributes for the instruction I want window
i want window
nIwantwindow = 0
# Attributes for the instruction Window title
# Here we don't define the window attribute again
title is
nWindowTitle = 0
# Keywords to ignore, just give them any value
the=0 and=0
# Data
literal = ""
ChangeRingKeyword _and and
func geti
if nIwantwindow = 0
nIwantwindow++
ok
func getwant
50.11. Clean Natural Code 438