What is new in Ring 1.9?
In this chapter we will learn about the changes and new features in Ring 1.9 release.
List of changes and new features
Ring 1.9 comes with the next features!
New Game : Gold Magic 800
More Games
Better Ring Notepad
Better StdLib
BigNumber Library
RingPostgreSQL Extension
Deploying Web applications in the Cloud
Better RingQt
Better Memory Management
Better Code Generator for Extensions
More Improvements
New Game : Gold Magic 800
The Gold Magic 800 is a new puzzle game.
Ring 1.9 comes with the Demo Version (18 Levels) and the game source code.
Steam Page (44 Levels) : https://store.steampowered.com/app/939200/Gold_Magic_800/
We can select the level
The next screen shot for level (1)
The Gold Magic 800 Level Editor
More Games
The next games are added to Ring Applications
The 2048 Game
The Memory Game
The Wise Quadrat Game
The Tessera Game
The Othello Game
The next screen shot for the 2048 game on Android
The next screen shot for the Tessera game
The next screen shot for the Othello game
Better Ring Notepad
New Style
New Mode
Tabs for opened files
Support executing batch files
Better StdLib
The List2Code() function is added to the StdLib
This function convert a Ring list during the runtime to Ring source code that we can save to source files.
The list may contains strings, numbers or sub lists.
Example:
load "stdlibcore.ring"
aList = 1:10
? list2Code(aList)
Output:
[
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
]
The Str2ASCIIList() and ASCIIList2Str() are added to the StdLib
Using these functions we can convert between string of bytes and a list of numbers where each item represent the ASCII code of one byte in the string.
So we may convert a string of bytes to ASCII List then do some operations on the list numbers (Like XOR)
Example:
load "stdlibcore.ring"
cStr = "MmMm"
aList = Str2ASCIILIST(cStr)
? aList
cStr2 = ASCIIList2Str(aList)
? cStr2
? len(cStr2)
Output:
77
109
77
109
MmMm
4
BigNumber Library
Using the BigNumber library we can do arithmetic operations on huge numbers.
Example:
load "bignumber.ring"
num1 = "62345678901234567891678345123456789" ### Big
num2 = "1237894567890123419871236545" ### Small
num3 = "64" ### Divide Small
num4 = "765432"
num5 = "3" ### Power
? "Add big numbers:"
a1 = new BigNumber(num1) a1.Print()
a2 = new BigNumber(num2) a2.Print()
a3 = a1 + a2 a3.Print() ? nl
? "Substract big numbers:"
a1 = new BigNumber(num1) a1.Print()
a2 = new BigNumber(num2) a2.Print()
a3 = a1 - a2 a3.Print() ? nl
? "Multiply big numbers:"
a1 = new BigNumber(num1) a1.print()
a2 = new BigNumber(num2) a2.print()
a3 = a1 * a2 a3.print() ? nl
? "Divide big numbers:"
a1 = new BigNumber(num1) a1.print()
a2 = new BigNumber(num2) a2.print()
a3 = a1 / a2 a3.print() ? nl
? "Divide big numbers: by very small number"
a1 = new BigNumber(num1) a1.print()
a2 = new BigNumber(num3) a2.print()
a3 = a1 / a2 a3.print() ? nl
? "Power of big number:"
a1 = new BigNumber(num1) a1.print()
a2 = new BigNumber(num5) a2.print()
a3 = a1 ^ a2 a3.print() ? nl
Output:
Add big numbers:
62345678901234567891678345123456789
1237894567890123419871236545
62345680139129135781801764994693334
Substract big numbers:
62345678901234567891678345123456789
1237894567890123419871236545
52345687663340000001554925252220244
Multiply big numbers:
62345678901234567891678345123456789
1237894567890123419871236545
77177377243260150103462178714197454736432472780119682305154005
Divide big numbers:
62345678901234567891678345123456789
1237894567890123419871236545
50364288
Divide big numbers: by very small number
62345678901234567891678345123456789
64
974151232831790123307474142554012
Power of big number:
62345678901234567891678345123456789
3
242336636261471172092347146031727004 (Output continue in next line)
371698195628343934238988256152289508 (Output continue in next line)
493964611043228971692389860897069
For more information check the BigNumber Library Chapter in the documentation
RingPostgreSQL Extension
Ring 1.9 provide native support for PostgreSQL database using the RingPostgreSQL Extension.
Example:
load "postgresqllib.ring"
conninfo = "user=postgres password=sa dbname = mahdb"
exit_nicely = func conn {
PQfinish(conn)
shutdown(1)
}
conn = PQconnectdb(conninfo)
if (PQstatus(conn) != CONNECTION_OK)
fputs(stderr, "Connection to database failed: "+PQerrorMessage(conn))
call exit_nicely(conn)
ok
res = PQexec(conn, "
DROP DATABASE mahdb;
")
if PQresultStatus(res) != PGRES_TUPLES_OK
fputs(stderr, "Remove failed: " + PQerrorMessage(conn))
PQclear(res)
ok
PQclear(res)
res = PQexec(conn, "CREATE DATABASE mahdb;")
if PQresultStatus(res) != PGRES_TUPLES_OK
fputs(stderr, "Create database failed: " + PQerrorMessage(conn))
PQclear(res)
ok
res = PQexec(conn, "
CREATE TABLE COMPANY (
ID INT PRIMARY KEY NOT NULL,
NAME TEXT NOT NULL,
AGE INT NOT NULL,
ADDRESS CHAR(50),
SALARY REAL );
")
if PQresultStatus(res) != PGRES_TUPLES_OK
fputs(stderr, "Create Table failed: " + PQerrorMessage(conn))
PQclear(res)
ok
PQclear(res)
res = PQexec(conn, "
INSERT INTO COMPANY (ID,NAME,AGE,ADDRESS,SALARY)
VALUES (1, 'Mahmoud' , 31, 'Jeddah', 10.00 ),
(2, 'Ahmed' , 27, 'Jeddah', 20.00 ),
(3, 'Mohammed', 33, 'Egypt' , 30.00 ),
(4, 'Ibrahim' , 24, 'Egypt ', 40.00 );
")
if PQresultStatus(res) != PGRES_TUPLES_OK
fputs(stderr, "Insert Table failed: " + PQerrorMessage(conn))
PQclear(res)
ok
PQclear(res)
res = PQexec(conn, "
select * from COMPANY
")
if PQresultStatus(res) != PGRES_TUPLES_OK
fputs(stderr, "Select failed: " + PQerrorMessage(conn))
PQclear(res)
call exit_nicely(conn)
ok
nFields = PQnfields(res)
for i = 1 to nFields
? PQfname(res, i-1)
next
? copy("*",60)
for i = 1 to PQntuples(res)
for j=1 to nFields
see PQgetvalue(res, i-1, j-1) + " "
next
see nl
next
PQclear(res)
PQfinish(conn)
Output:
id
name
age
address
salary
************************************************************
1 Mahmoud 31 Jeddah 10
2 Ahmed 27 Jeddah 20
3 Mohammed 31 Egypt 30
4 Ibrahim 24 Egypt 40
For more information check the PostgreSQL Chapter in the documentation
Deploying Web applications in the Cloud
We created a new project and tutorial to explain how to deploy Ring web applications in the Cloud using Heroku
Project : https://github.com/ring-lang/RingWebAppOnHeroku
Heroku Website : https://www.heroku.com/
For more information check the Deploying Web Applications In The Cloud chapter in the documentation.
Better RingQt
The next classes are added to RingQt
QDrag
QMimeData
QDropEvent
QDragMoveEvent
QDragEnterEvent
QDragLeaveEvent
QClipboard
QChildEvent
QGeoPositionInfo
QGeoCoordinate
QGeoAddress
QGeoAreaMonitorInfo
QGeoAreaMonitorSource
QGeoCircle
QGeoPositionInfoSource
QGeoRectangle
QGeoShape
QGeoSatelliteInfo
QGeoSatelliteInfoSource
QNmeaPositionInfoSource
QAxWidget
QTextStream
QPrinterInfo
QPrintPreviewWidget
QPrintPreviewDialog
QPageSetupDialog
QAbstractPrintDialog
QPrintDialog
The next classes are updated
QAllEvents Class : New Events (ChildAdded, ChildPolished, ChildRemoved).
QPainter Class : Updated Methods (drawConvexPloygon, drawPoints, drawPolyline) Accept Ring list of points.
QVariant : More versions that accept different parameters when creating the object.
QAxBase : Different versions for the dynamicCall() and querySubObject() methods.
The next example for using the QPrintPreviewDialog class
Example:
load "guilib.ring"
new qApp {
win1 = new qwidget() {
setwindowtitle("Printer Preview Dialog")
setgeometry(100,100,800,880)
printer1 = new qPrinter(0)
show()
oPreview = new qPrintPreviewDialog(printer1) {
setParent(win1)
move(10,10)
setPaintrequestedevent("printPreview()")
exec()
}
}
exec()
}
func printPreview
printer1 {
painter = new qpainter() {
begin(printer1)
myfont = new qfont("Times",50,-1,0)
setfont(myfont)
drawtext(100,100,"Test - Page (1)")
printer1.newpage()
drawtext(100,100,"Test - Page (2)")
printer1.newpage()
myfont2 = new qfont("Times",14,-1,0)
setfont(myfont2)
for x = 1 to 30
drawtext(100,100+(20*x),"Number : " + x)
next
endpaint()
}
}
Screen Shot:
Better Memory Management
The Ring API is updated to include RING_API_RETMANAGEDCPOINTER()
Using RING_API_RETMANAGEDCPOINTER() the Ring extensions written in C/C++ languages can return a managed pointer to Ring. This pointer can be controlled by the Ring VM using reference counting.
This is important to avoid the need to write code that free the unmanaged resources like QPixMap objects in RingQt.
Also the Code Generator for extensions is updated to automatically use RING_API_RETMANAGEDCPOINTER() based on need.
Syntax:
RING_API_RETMANAGEDCPOINTER(void *pValue,const char *cPointerType,
void (* pFreeFunc)(void *,void *))
For more information about RING_API_RETMANAGEDCPOINTER()
See the “Extension using the C/C++ languages” Chapter in the documentation
Better Code Generator for Extensions
The code generator for extensions is updated to support the <loadfile> command
<loadfile> filename.cf
This is useful to separate the extension configuration file to many files
Example:
The file : qt_module_network.cf in the RingQt Extension
<comment>
Module (network)
</comment>
<loadfile> qabstractsocket.cf
<loadfile> qnetworkproxy.cf
<loadfile> qtcpsocket.cf
<loadfile> qtcpserver.cf
<loadfile> qhostaddress.cf
<loadfile> qhostinfo.cf
<loadfile> qnetworkrequest.cf
<loadfile> qnetworkaccessmanager.cf
<loadfile> qnetworkreply.cf
The code generator support the <managed> option when defining classes.
Using this option, the generator will use RING_API_RETMANAGEDCPOINTER() to return the C pointer.
So the Garbage Collector will manage these C pointers.
Example
<class>
name: QFont
para: QString, int, int, bool
managed
</class>
More Improvements
Ring Compiler - The Rule (Factor -> ‘-’ Expr) changed to (Factor -> ‘-’ Factor).
Ring VM - Better Error Message.
Better code for IsNULL() function - updated to check pointers too.
Better code for ringvm_evalinscope() function - used by the Trace Library.
Better code for Space() function.
Better code for Hex() and Dec() functions.
Better code for Download() function.
Better code for SubStr() function.
Better code for the Unsigned() function.
Better code for Chdir() function.
Better code for Tempname() function.
Better code for HashTable - New Key (using ring_strdup() instead of strdup() function).
New Function : SRandom() - Initialize random number generator.
New Function : IsPointer().
IsList() will not return True for C Pointers, we have now the IsPointer() function.
The ? Operator is updated to respect the ringvm_see() function.
Scripts to run Ring tests on Linux and macOS (Not only Windows).
RingAllegro is Updated from Allegro 5.1 to Allegro 5.2.
Shader Functions are added to RingAllegro.
Joystick Functions are added to RingAllegro.
Network functions are added to RingLibSDL.
Game Engine for 2D Games - Text Class - Check the font object before usage.
Game Engine for 2D Games - Automatic support for Joystick.
RingLibCurl is updated to automatically use CURLOPT_COPYPOSTFIELDS when needed.
Ring Notepad - Find Previous Feature.
Ring Notepad - Default Style.
Ring Notepad - Support using Non-English language (Like Arabic) in file names.
Form Designer - Nice Alignment for Toolbox Icons.
Form Designer - QAllEvents Class - Mouse Double Click Event.
Find in Files - Replace and Replace All options.
Qt Class Converter is updated for better conversion results.
More samples are added to ring/samples/other folder.
Code Refactoring for Ring Notepad, RingQt, Game Engine for 2D Games.
Better Documentation - Many images are updated to reflect the current state of Ring Environment.
Better Documentation - More chapters are added to the documentation.