So I am working on a simple micro language/alternative syntax for PHP.
Its syntax takes a lot from JavaScript and CoffeeScript including a few of my own concepts. I have hand written the parser (no parser generator used) in PHP to convert the code into PHP then execute it. It is more of a proof of concept/learning tool rather than anything else but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to see it used on an actual project one day.
Anyway here is a little problem I have come across that I thought I would impose on you great intellects:
As you know in PHP the period ( . ) is used for string concatenation. However in JavaScript it is used for method chaining.
Now one thing that annoys me in PHP is having to do use that bloody arrow (->) for my method chains, so I went the JavaScript way and implemented the period (.) for use with objects.
(I think you can see the problem already)
Because I’m currently only writing a ‘dumb’ parser that merely does a huge search and replace, there is no way to distinguish whether a period (.) is being used for concatenation or for method chaining.
“So if you are trying to be like JavaScript, just use the addition (+) operator Franky!”, I hear you scream. Well I would but because the addition (+) operator is used for math in PHP I would merely be putting myself in the same situation.
Unless I can make my parser smart enough (with a crap load of work) to know that when the addition (+) operator is working with integers then don’t convert it into a period (.) for concatenation I am pretty much screwed.
But here is the cool thing. Because this is pretty much a new language. I don’t have to use the period or addition operator for concatenation.
So my question is: If I was to decide to introduce a new method of string concatenation, what character would make the most sense?
Does it have to be one character?
..could work!Any myriad of combinations, like
~~or>:even!