document enums

doc/enums.md

@@ -0,0 +1,180 @@
+# Enums
+
+TL;DR:
+
+```python
+import "stdlib/io.jou"
+
+enum Foo:
+    Bar
+    Baz
+
+def main() -> int:
+    thing = Foo::Bar
+
+    if thing == Foo::Bar:
+        printf("It's bar\n")  # Output: It's bar
+    elif thing == Foo::Baz:
+        printf("It's baz\n")
+    else:
+        assert False  # never happens
+
+    printf("%d\n", Foo::Bar as int)  # Output: 0
+    printf("%d\n", Foo::Baz as int)  # Output: 1
+
+    return 0
+```
+
+
+## Introduction
+
+Let's say you are working on a calculator program,
+and you have something like this:
+
+```python
+import "stdlib/io.jou"
+
+def calculate(a: double, b: double, op: byte) -> double:
+    if op == '+':
+        return a + b
+    elif op == '-':
+        return a - b
+    elif op == '*':
+        return a * b
+    else:
+        assert False  # unsupported operation
+
+def main() -> int:
+    printf("%f\n", calculate(1, 2, '+'))  # Output: 3.000000
+    return 0
+```
+
+Here `assert False` aborts the execution of the program
+with an error message that contains the file name and line number.
+This is useful when some part of the code should never run.
+Here, if you leave it out, you will get a compiler warning,
+because then the `calculate()` function doesn't return a value in all cases.
+
+Now, suppose you need to add a division feature to the calculator.
+The most common ways to do division are:
+- "Normal" division: `7 / 3 = 2.33333...`
+- Floor division: `7 / 3 = 2` (result rounded down)
+
+It is tempting to use the `'/'` byte for normal division, but which byte to use for floor division?
+Maybe `'f'` for floor?
+If you ask any experienced programmer, they will probably tell you to use enums.
+Here's how it works in Jou:
+
+```python
+import "stdlib/io.jou"
+import "stdlib/math.jou"
+
+enum Operation:
+    Add
+    Subtract
+    Multiply
+    Divide          # 7 / 3 produces 2.3333...
+    FloorDivide     # 7 / 3 produces 2
+
+def calculate(a: double, b: double, op: Operation) -> double:
+    if op == Operation::Add:
+        return a + b
+    if op == Operation::Subtract:
+        return a - b
+    if op == Operation::Multiply:
+        return a * b
+    if op == Operation::Divide:
+        return a / b
+    if op == Operation::FloorDivide:
+        return floor(a / b)
+    else:
+        assert False  # not possible
+
+def main() -> int:
+    printf("%f\n", calculate(7, 3, Operation::Divide))        # Output: 2.333333
+    printf("%f\n", calculate(7, 3, Operation::FloorDivide))   # Output: 2.000000
+    return 0
+```
+
+Here `enum Operation` defines a new enum, which has 5 possible values.
+You can then use `if` statements to check which value an instance of `Operation` is.
+
+Enums members are accessed with `::` instead of `.`,
+because it was easier to implement in the Jou compiler.
+Please create an issue on GitHub if you would prefer `.` syntax instead.
+
+
+## Integer conversions
+
+Jou enums are actually just fancy integers.
+You can use `as` to convert them to integers and back:
+
+```python
+import "stdlib/io.jou"
+
+enum Operation:
+    Add
+    Subtract
+    Multiply
+
+def main() -> int:
+    printf("%d\n", Operation::Add as int)       # Output: 0
+    printf("%d\n", Operation::Subtract as int)  # Output: 1
+    printf("%d\n", Operation::Multiply as int)  # Output: 2
+    return 0
+```
+
+This is sometimes used to assign a string to each enum member:
+
+```python
+import "stdlib/io.jou"
+
+enum Operation:
+    Add
+    Subtract
+    Multiply
+
+def main() -> int:
+    descriptions = ["Add numbers", "Subtract numbers", "Multiply numbers"]
+    printf("%s\n", descriptions[Operation::Subtract as int])  # Output: Subtract numbers
+    return 0
+```
+
+You can also convert integers to enums,
+but note that the result might not correspond with any member of the enum:
+
+```python
+import "stdlib/io.jou"
+
+enum Operation:
+    Add
+    Subtract
+    Multiply
+
+def main() -> int:
+    wat = 7 as Operation
+
+    # Output: something else 7
+    if wat == Operation::Add:
+        printf("Add\n")
+    elif wat == Operation::Subtract:
+        printf("Subtract\n")
+    elif wat == Operation::Multiply:
+        printf("Multiply\n")
+    else:
+        printf("something else %d\n", wat)
+
+    return 0
+```
+
+Note that the `printf()` function sees the enum as if it was an integer,
+so you don't need to do `wat as int` when printing the integer value with `%d`.
+
+
+## Debugging
+
+Unfortunately, it is not possible to print the name of an enum member at runtime.
+You can however print its numeric value with printf's `%d` specifier (see above).
+Please create an issue on GitHub to discuss this if this annoys you.
+
+