Introduction
Welcome to the official documentation for x++! This documentation will get you started in the development of your first x++ project or will help you learn more about x++ in general with in-depth explanations and tutorials.
Table of Contents
About
x++ (Pronounced "ex-plus-plus") is a high-level, interpreted language written in Python by iiPython with low-level syntax, similar to that of x86 Assembly (and additionally inspired by Batch).
x++ contains features such as:
- Automatic garbage collection
- Scoped/file/global variables
- Sectioning/function system
- Mature python integration
- Import/export/module system
- Object-oriented programming through the use of files
- ... much more!
Getting Started
Step 1: Installation
First and foremost, make sure you have Python (Python 3.10 is required, however we recommend 3.11+) installed on your device. You can check if you have Python installed by opening up a terminal and typing:
python3 -V
(on NT* platforms, replace python3 with py)
It is highly recommended to have a text editor or Integrated Development Environment, such as Visual Studio Code, as its built-in development tools and add-ons will speed up and facilitate your development process. However, a simple text editor like notepad is sufficient.
Next, visit our github repository and download a clone of the repository by clicking on the green Code ▾ button and the Download ZIP option. Optionally, if you have git installed on your device, you can also clone the repository by opening up a terminal and typing:
git clone https://github.com/iiPythonx/xpp
To install xpp system-wide, run the following:
pip install .
You will now have the xpp command available for use.
If you are choosing Visual Studio Code as your Integrated Development Environment, you can also install the x++ extension on the marketplace to get syntax highlighting on your x++ files.
Step 2: Set-Up
Once you open up your x++ project, you should be able to find a file named main.xpp. By default, this is your main entry file and is where you will be writing your x++ code. Within the file, you should see an example program similar to:
:: Main
prt "Hello, world!"
Any x++ files should always end in the .xpp extension.
You can edit the main entry file by editing the configuration in .xconfig. It is a JSON-like file that contains all the configurations for your x++ project. Within it, you should see:
{
"main": "main.xpp"
}
You can learn more about setting up your project in the tutorials.
Step 3: Execution
After you are done writing your x++ code, you can execute your x++ project immediately by opening up a terminal and typing:
python main.py .
Currently, you should see the terminal output:
"Hello, world!"
You can also compile your xpp code into Python using caffeine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is it called x++?
The language originally started as the "X Programming Language" because the name sounded cool. As development went on, a second revision was published and the name was changed to x2.
Starting on March 6th, 2023, x2 was deprecated in favor of x++ as the language was beginning to undergo major changes.
Q: Can I use x++ for data management, game design, or simply for fun?
Most of the things you could think of making are able to be created within x++. However, you can also supercharge xpp with the power of Python; see here.
Credits & Links
Contributors
- iiPython - Developer, Documentation
- DmmD Gaming - Original Documentation, Ideas, & Standard Library
Resources
Last Updated: December 2nd, 2023 by iiPython