Projects / nano
git clone https://molodetz.nl/retoor/nano.git
nano
A minimal interpreted programming language implemented in Python.
Author: retoor retoor@molodetz.nl
Overview
nano is a dynamically typed scripting language with C-like syntax. The interpreter is implemented in approximately 500 lines of Python code. The language supports object-oriented programming with classes, constructors, destructors, and methods.
Usage
python nano.py <filename.nano>
Language Features
Data Types
| Type | Example |
|---|---|
| int |
42
|
| float |
3.14
|
| string |
"hello"
or
'hello'
|
| array |
{1, 2, 3}
|
| null |
null
|
| object |
new ClassName()
|
Operators
Arithmetic:
+
,
-
,
*
,
/
,
%
Comparison:
==
,
!=
,
<
,
>
,
<=
,
>=
Logical:
&&
,
||
Assignment:
=
,
+=
,
-=
,
*=
,
/=
Increment/Decrement:
++
,
--
Pointer:
&
(address-of),
*
(dereference)
Control Flow
if (condition) {
// statements
} else {
// statements
}
while (condition) {
// statements
}
for (init; condition; update) {
// statements
}
Classes
class ClassName {
property = initialValue;
ClassName(this, param1, param2) {
this.property = param1;
}
~ClassName(this) {
// destructor
}
method(this, arg) {
return this.property + arg;
}
}
obj = new ClassName(value1, value2);
obj.method(arg);
Functions
Methods support default parameters, variable arguments, and keyword arguments:
method(this, required, optional = "default", *args, **kwargs) {
// body
}
Built-in Functions
| Function | Description |
|---|---|
print()
|
Output values to console |
len()
|
Return length of string or array |
str()
|
Convert value to string |
int()
|
Convert value to integer |
bool()
|
Convert value to boolean (0 or 1) |
typeof()
|
Return type name as string |
String Methods
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
.substr(start, length)
|
Extract substring |
.split(delimiter)
|
Split into array |
.count(substr)
|
Count occurrences |
.indexOf(substr)
|
Find first index |
.toUpper()
|
Convert to uppercase |
.toLower()
|
Convert to lowercase |
.trim()
|
Remove whitespace |
.replace(old, new)
|
Replace substring |
.length
|
String length property |
Array Methods
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
.push(value)
|
Append element |
.pop()
|
Remove and return last element |
.join(separator)
|
Join elements into string |
.indexOf(value)
|
Find index of element |
.slice(start, end)
|
Extract subarray |
.length
|
Array length property |
Comments
// single line comment
/* multi-line
comment */
Examples
The
examples/
directory contains demonstrations of language features:
| File | Description |
|---|---|
arrays.nano
|
Array operations and iteration |
classes.nano
|
Class definitions and object creation |
control_flow.nano
|
Conditionals and loops |
fibonacci.nano
|
Fibonacci sequence calculation |
functions.nano
|
Method definitions and recursion |
json.nano
|
JSON encoder/decoder implementation |
objects.nano
|
Object composition and state management |
operators.nano
|
Arithmetic and logical operators |
pointers.nano
|
Pointer operations and references |
strings.nano
|
String manipulation methods |
sudoku.nano
|
Sudoku solver using backtracking |
types.nano
|
Type system and coercion |
Implementation
The interpreter consists of:
- Tokenizer: Converts source code into tokens using regular expressions
- Parser: Constructs syntax structures from token streams
- Runtime: Executes parsed statements with scope management
Classes are stored as
NanoClass
objects containing properties, methods, constructor, and destructor definitions. Instances are
NanoObject
objects with their own property copies.
License
MIT - Like always.