saiftynet / simple

Simple Integratable Modular Programming Language Experiment

The SIMPLE Integrated Modular Programming Language Experiment.

This is an attempt at writing a script interpreter in another interpreted (perl) program. Is this really necessary? I don't know, probably not. Is it foolish? Probably. But lack of a rationale and foolishness are rarely obstacles for the irrational or the foolish. Hence this Experiment

Programs are generated to perform specific functions, may involve some interaction, and these actions may be customisable. Programming languages allow the developer to generate such applications and allow the creation of a diverse set of applications. But the ability to include user programmable scripting in these applications may actually be useful. So the objective to add scripting facility to scripted Perl applications, that is user customisable.

Perl appears to make this particularly easy in the way that easily handles document parsing and its rather flexible handling of data variables and subroutines through hashes. This module can be merely included in any Perl application, and adds a programmability feature to the application.

The goals would be to have a script interpreting system that

1. Handles comments
2. Handles code blocks and program flow control
3. Allows user defined variables
4. Allows user defined subroutines
5. Extended using external modules
6. Remains customisable.

Scenarios

The main initial goal was that of Robotic control. The scripting would allow quick generation of scripts that define robotic sensor and motor programmatically, abstracting out internal functions and interface code. In fact the program is based on GPIO scripting application made a few years ago called piGears in one of a series of projects for the Rasberry Pi. This had allowed quick and easy scripting of the IO of the device which could be configured in a number of different ways, depending on the project.

This is essentially a custom scripting tool for one specific device (the rPi) and a narrow domain (the IO). But such a tool may have a wider application if it could be customised easily. Hence this simple, integratable, modular programming language experiment...a module that allows end-user scripting, adaptable to diverse roles.

So what's so special?

So how is this different from any other programming language? Firstly it is an integrated into an application as an end-user facing language rather than a development language. Secondly it is modular and customisable offering functions specific to the application itself. Thirdly it isolates and abstracts system functions rather than allowing direct access to these, both for security, and also to reduce complexity for the end-user.

First extension

As a skeleton of a language, there is little to demonstrate what it can do, and less to discover what it needs to make it useful. For this reason, and because one of the main applications I hope to use it in is robotics, the first extension will involve the archetypal virtual robot...the Turtle (AKA Logo).