What is new in Ring 1.22
In this chapter we will learn about the changes and new features in Ring 1.22 release.
List of changes and new features
Ring 1.22 comes with the next features!
Research Article
PWCT 2.0 (Free Software)
More Projects
Better Samples
Better Functions
Better RingFastPro Extension
Return Attribute by Reference
Better Compiler
More Improvements
Research Article
URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics13234627
PWCT 2.0 (Free Software)
Programming Without Coding Technology 2.0 is free software available on the Steam platform.
URL: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1953110/Programming_Without_Coding_Technology_20/
More Projects
EpochTime application (ring/applications folder)
DirSize - Directory Size Analyzer (GitHub project)
GitHub Action - Build Ring Project (GitHub project)
Ring Syntax Highlighting for Sublime Text 4 (GitHub project)
Ring Syntax Highlighting for Lite XL editor (ring/tools/editors folder)
Better Samples
The next samples are added:
samples/UsingJSONLib/test11.ring
samples/General/TriangleLib/TriangleLibrary.ring
samples/Drawing/HeartEquation/HeartEquation.ring
samples/Language/ChangeSyntax/swapkeywordandoperator.ring
samples/ProblemSolving/GetQuotesHistory/Curl-YahooHistory-JSON.ring
samples/UsingStbImage/test15.ring - Fast Animation
samples/UsingBingChat/examples/chat13.ring
samples/UsingFastPro/test2.ring
samples/UsingFastPro/test3.ring
samples/UsingFastPro/test4.ring
samples/UsingFastPro/test5.ring
samples/UsingFastPro/test6.ring
The following screenshot is from the Heart Equation sample:
The next applications and samples are revised:
Sokoban - Code Format.
HoursCounter - User Interface.
GetQuotesHistory - Better implementation.
GoldMagic800 - Draw background based on level number.
Othello - Better colors and images.
samples/UsingStbImage/test12.ring
samples/UsingStbImage/test15.ring
tools/tryringonline/samples.ring
Better Functions
StdLib - Split() function - Better implementation.
StdLib - OSCopyFile() function - Better support for Linux.
StdLib - OSCopyFolder() function - Better support for Linux.
StdLib - Factorial() function - Better performance.
StdLib - Fibonacci() function - Better performance.
RingQt - QString Class - Added: size()/length() methods.
ringvm_calllist() function - Added the parameters count and the line number to the output.
Example:
The next Ring code defines a SumRows class that processes and sums rows of numbers given within curly braces. The braceExprEval() method evaluates each value, updating the sum for the current row and printing the sum when the row changes. The braceEnd() method prints the sum of the last row.
new SumRows {
10 20 30 # 60
10 # 10
400 100 # 500
30 40 # 70
}
class SumRows
nSum = 0
nLastRow = 0
func braceExprEval value
aCallList = ringvm_calllist()
nLine = aCallList[len(aCallList)-1][7]
if nLastRow = 0 nLastRow = nLine nSum = value return ok
if nLastRow != nLine nLastRow = nLine ? nSum nSum = value return ok
nSum += value
func braceEnd
? nSum
Better RingFastPro Extension
The build script is revised to use the ring/lib directory.
updateList()/updateColumn() functions - Support Serial/Pow/Rem options.
Example:
The next code begins by loading the RingFastPro extension and initializing a 5x5 list called aList. It then updates this list with values incremented by 5 in each column. After printing a row of 20 asterisks, the code iterates through the list, printing each element with hyphens between them, except for the last element in each row.
load "fastpro.ring"
aList = [
list(5),
list(5),
list(5),
list(5),
list(5)
]
updateList(aList,:serial,:col,1,0)
updateList(aList,:serial,:col,2,5)
updateList(aList,:serial,:col,3,10)
updateList(aList,:serial,:col,4,15)
updateList(aList,:serial,:col,5,20)
? copy("*",20)
for x=1 to 5
for y=1 to 5
print(aList[x][y])
if y != 5 print ("-") ok
next
? ""
next
Output:
The output displays a row of asterisks followed by the elements of the list arranged in a structured format.
********************
1-6-11-16-21
2-7-12-17-22
3-8-13-18-23
4-9-14-19-24
5-10-15-20-25
The following screenshot is from the Fast Animation sample:
The sample uses RingFastPro extension to generate 1024x768 image (Over 60 FPS)
Return Attribute by Reference
In early Ring releases, returning an attribute that contains a List/Object would return a shared reference to this List/Object. This release supports advanced cases for using this feature, allowing nested method calls before returning the List/Object.
Note
For advanced usage of references with full customization, refer to the ‘Using References’ chapter, which explains the Ref()/Reference() function.
Example:
o = new myclass
o.getObject().x = 1000
o.getObject().y = 2000
o.getObject().z = 3000
? o.aList
class myclass
aList = [ new point {x=10 y=20 z=30 },
new point {x=100 y=200 z=300} ]
func getObject
return myMethod()
func myMethod
return aList[myIndex()]
func myIndex
return 2
class point x y z
Output:
x: 10
y: 20
z: 30
x: 1000
y: 2000
z: 3000
Better Compiler
Lists - Support trailing comma.
Support (+) operator before numbers.
Logical AND have higher precedence than Logical OR.
Example:
aList = ["one",
"two",
"three",
]
nNum1 = +10
nNum2 = -10
lRes = True OR False AND False
lRes2 = True || False && False
? aList
? nNum1
? nNum2
? lRes
? lRes2
Output:
one
two
three
10
-10
1 # True
1 # True
More Improvements
Better documentation - Chapter: Program Structure.
Form Designer - Copy object style when using the Duplicate button.
Form Designer - Avoid name duplication when using the Duplicate button.
Better vscode extension - Ring build system and snippets.
Better RingQt for Android/WebAssembly - RING_API_REGISTER usage is revised.
Output the RingPDFGen library to the ring/lib directory and install it accordingly.
File: buildgccstatic.sh - Make the Ring executable fully static.
File: marketing/presentation/Ring.pptx - Use https in the website URL.
File: language/CMakeLists.txt - Use /etc/os-release to get the Distro name.
Ring Compiler/VM source code - Revise exit() function usage.
Ring Compiler/VM source code - language/src/stmt.c - Revise comments.
Ring Compiler/VM source code - language/src/vm.c - Organize the instructions.
Ring Compiler/VM source code - List structure - Rename members (Use shorter names).
Ring Visual Source - Added: language/visualsrc/ring_hashlib.ssf