Basics

NIKL language uses .nk as its file extension. The interpreter is designed to be lightweight and fast, making it suitable for scripting, orchestration, and lightweight services.

There is no main function in NIKL. The code is executed line by line, and there is no initial entry point. This allows for a more flexible and dynamic programming style.

Download the NIKL interpreter syntax highlighter from the VSCode marketplace. You can find it by searching for "NIKL" in the extensions tab or by visiting the NIKL extension page.

Hello World

neko.nk

print("Hello, World!")

This simple program prints "Hello, World!" to the console.

Variables

Variables in NIKL are declared using the let keyword. The type of the variable is inferred from the assigned value.

variables.nk

let name = "NIKL"
let age = 5

In this example, name is a string variable and age is an integer variable.

Functions

Functions are defined using the fn keyword. You can define parameters and return types.

fn greet(name: String) -> String {
    return "Hello, " + name + "!"
}

tip

All the type hints are optional. The compiler will infer the types for you.

Control Flow

NIKL supports standard control flow constructs like if, elif, else, for, while and loop.

let number = 10
if number > 0 {
    print("Positive")
} elif number < 0 {
    print("Negative")
} else {
    print("Zero")
}

This example checks if a number is positive, negative, or zero and prints the result.

Collections

NIKL supports collections like arrays and hash maps.

Arrays

Arrays are defined using square brackets [].

let numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

for number in numbers {
    print(number)
}

This example creates an array of numbers and iterates through it, printing each number.

Hash Maps

Hash maps are defined using curly braces {}.

let person = {
    "name": "NIKL",
    "age": 5
}

for key, value in person {
    print(key + ": " + value)
}

This example creates a hash map with keys and values and iterates through it, printing each key-value pair.

File Import

NIKL allows you to import files using the import keyword.

import "utils.nk" as utils
let result = utils.add(5, 10)
print(result)

This example imports a file named utils.nk and uses a function add from that file.

Inbuilt Modules/Libraries

NIKL comes with a set of inbuilt modules/libraries that provide additional functionality. Some of the commonly used modules include:

• os: Provides functions for interacting with the operating system, such as directory manipulation, environment management, and file operations.
• regex: Provides support for regular expressions, allowing you to perform pattern matching and text manipulation.

Currently, we only have os and regex modules. More modules will be added in the future.

Conclusion

This is a brief overview of the NIKL programming language.