A taakScript is a sequence of statements. Compound statements are enclosed in curly braces (that is, a function definition is considered a single statement). Legal statements include:

• Function definitions.
• Variable declarations.
• Import statements.
• Conditional statements.
• Looping statements.
• Assignments.
• Expressions.
• Print statements.

Variable Declaration

Syntax:
var identifier [= initializer];

Examples:
var x
var list = ["one","two",3];
var nested_list = [0,1,[2,3]];

In general, global variables do not need to be declared in taak. They are defined when they are used. Inside a function definition, local variables may be created using the var keyword. The format is the var keyword followed by an identifier followed by an optional initializer. An identifier in Taak begins with a letter or underscore (_) followed by zero or more letters, digits, or underscores. An initializer is any taak literal, expression or a list initializer. A list initializer is zero or more initializers separated by commas and enclosed in square brackets. List initializers may be nested.

Function Definition

Syntax:
function identifier(arglist) {
var one = 1;
return x + one;
}

Examples:
function addOne(x) {
var one = 1;
return x + one;
}
function doNothing() {

}

A function definition begins with the function keyword followed by the function name and argument list enclosed in parentheses and the function body enclosed in curly braces. The function name and argument names must be legal taak identifiers. The arglist is zero or more identifiers separated by commas. As in JavaScript the arguments and return values are not typed. The arguments and any variables declared inside a function body are local to the function. A function body may contain one or more return statements.

Function Invocation

Syntax:
functionname(arglist);

Examples:
y = addOne(1);
doNothing();
r = range(0, 10);

A function must be defined be fore it can be invoked. A function is invoked by specifying its name follows by zero or more arguments enclosed in parentheses. A function may or may not return a value. If no value is returned, its value will be null.

Java Class Instantiation

Syntax:
[new]classname(arglist);

Examples:
s = new String();
a = ArrayList(10);
p = Properties();

The syntax of a new statement is the optional keyword new followed the Java class name followed by an argument list enclosed in parentheses. The class name is a fully qualified class name such as com.nevik.TaakCompiler or an unqualified name such as String for Java classes in the packages java.lang and java.util.

Java Method Invocation

Syntax:
objectreference.methodname(arglist);

Examples:
a.clear();
a.add(1);
p.add("jsp","ugh");
p.add("perl","ok");
p.add("taak","cool");

The syntax for invoking a Java method is the same as in Java. It begins with an object reference followed by a dot followed by the method name followed by an argument list enclosed in parentheses. The parentheses are required even if the argument list is empty.

In calling Java methods and constructors, the arguments may be converted to match the method or constructor signature. The following conversions may be done to find the matching method or constructor:

1. If required Character, Byte, Short, Integer, Long, Float, Double are converted to their primitive counterparts: char, byte, short, int, long, float, and double.
2. Numeric types may be converted to a larger type. For instance, Byte to Short to Integer to Long to Float to Double.
3. Numeric types may be converted to a smaller type. For instance Double to Float to Long to Integer to Short to Byte.
4. A derived class maybe converted to its super class or interface.

Where alternative methods or constructors exist the method with fewer conversions is preferred over more conversions and conversions to larger numeric types are preferred over conversions to smaller types.

Assignment

Syntax:
left_reference = expression;

Examples:
x = 0;
u.name = "Buzz";
list[0] = x;
map["a"] = "apple";

An assignment sets the value of a left_reference. A left_reference is a reference to a modifiable variable, field, mutator, list member, or map entry that appears on the left side of an assignments. References can combined where it is well defined. Some examples will make this clear.

Suppose there are two Java classes defined as follows:

public class User {
   private String email;
   public Name name;
   public List accounts = new ArrayList();
   public Map phonebook = new HashMap();
   public String getEmail() {return email; }
   public void setEmail(String email) {this.email = email; }
   public Boolean isActive {return Boolean.TRUE; }
}

public class Name {
   public String first;
   public String last;
   public String toString() { return first.concat(" ").concat(last); }
}

And suppose the variables u and v hold values of type User. Then the following examples have the corresponding meaning:

Similarly, a right_reference is a combination of a variable, field, accessor, predicate, Java method, list member, or map entry that may appear on the right hand side of an assignment.

If Statement

Syntax:
if (expression) statement [else statement]

Examples:
if (x == 0) y = "abc";

if (!b) {
   A = 0;
} else {
   a = 1;
}

if (c == 0) {
   x = 1;
} else if (c == 1) {
   x = 2;
} else if (c == 2) {
   x = 4;
} else {
   x = 8;
}

The if statement has the same syntax as in Java with the exception that the condition does not have to be strictly boolean.

The following table specifies sample truth-values:

While Statement

Syntax:
while (expression) statement

Examples:
while (i < n) {
   i = i + 1;
}

The while loop has the same syntax as in Java. The condition is evaluated as in the if statement. Break and continue statements may be used inside the body.

Foreach Statement

Syntax:
foreach identifier in collection statement

Examples:
foreach i in ["one", "two", "three"] {
   println i;
}

foreach acct in accounts {
   println acct;
}

foreach n in range(0, 10) {
   println n;
}

The foreach loop iterates through a collection. It is like the following idiom in Java:

Iterator iter = collection.iterator();
while (iter.hasNext()) {
   Object obj = iter.next();
   System.out.println(obj);
}

To simulate a FORTRAN for statement, the range() function can be use to generate a collection of integers. For example, the Taak statement:

foreach n in range(0, 10, 2) {
   println n;
}

is equivalent to the following Java statement:

for (int n = 0; n < 10; n += 2) {
   System.out.println(n);
}

Print Statement

Syntax:
print arglist;

Examples:
print "hello";
print 1,2,3;
print 1,x+y;

The print statement outputs a string representation of its argument list to standard output.

Println Statement

Syntax:
println arglist;

Examples:
println "hello";
println 1,2,3;
println 1,x+y;

The println statement is like the print statement, but also appends a linefeed character.

Import Statement

Syntax:
import "filepath";

Examples:
import "myfunctions.taak";
import "util/options.taak";

The import statement is used to include other taakScripts in the current script. One good use of import is to include function definitions in another script. If the file path is not absolute, it is interpreted relative to the including script.

Following is an example:

myfuncs.taak:

function negative(x) {
   return x < 0;
}

function swap(x,y) {
   var t = x;
   x = y;
   y = t;
}

myfuncs.taak:

import "myfuncs.taak";
   if (negative(x)) {
   swap(a,b);
}

Exit Statement

Syntax:
exit;

Examples:
exit;

The exit statement terminates execution of the script.