CHANGELOG

Changelog - [August-2025]

[Unreleased] – Recent Major & Minor Updates

New Features (Week of August 9, 2025)

  • Dict Pattern Matching Introduced a powerful new match statement for pattern matching on dictionaries:

    • Syntax: match value { pattern => action }
    • Supports dictionary pattern matching with specific key-value pairs
    • Wildcard pattern _ for default cases
    • Full lexer, parser, and evaluator integration with new MATCH keyword and => arrow token

    Sample:

    let user = {"role": "admin", "active": true}
match user {
    {"role": "admin"} => print("Admin user!")
    {"active": false} => print("Inactive user")
    _ => print("Regular user")
}

  • Enhanced Scheduling Module Complete rewrite of the schedule module with full ticker and cron functionality:

    • ticker(intervalSeconds, callback) - executes functions at regular intervals
    • schedule(cronExpr, callback) - cron-based scheduling with proper expression parsing
    • Helper functions: everySecond(), everyMinute(), everyHour(), daily(hour, minute)
    • Support for step values in cron expressions (e.g., */5 for every 5 seconds)
    • Comprehensive error handling and validation
    • Proper cleanup with stopTicker() and stopSchedule() functions

    Sample:

    import schedule

// Every 5 seconds
let ticker = schedule.ticker(5, func() {
    print("Tick!")
})

// Daily at 9:30 AM
let job = schedule.schedule("0 30 9 * * *", func() {
    print("Good morning!")
})

// Using helper functions
let minutely = schedule.everyMinute(func() {
    print("New minute!")
})

  • HTTP Module Improvements Enhanced Express.js-like HTTP server functionality:

    • http.app() - creates Express-like application instances
    • Route registration methods: http.get(), http.post(), http.put(), http.delete(), http.patch()
    • Middleware support with http.use()
    • Improved request/response handling with better route matching
    • Enhanced HTTP handler execution with request information display
    • Better 404 handling and error responses

    Sample:

    import http

http.app()

http.get("/", func(req, res) {
    print("Home page accessed")
})

http.post("/api/users", func(req, res) {
    print("Creating new user")
})

http.use(func(req, res, next) {
    print("Middleware executed")
})

http.listen(3000, "Server running on port 3000")

Language Features

  • Println

    • println: Print value with a newline which was something print could do but now print just prints the value without new-lines

  • Declarative Statements Introduced new declarative keywords for expressive, styled runtime messages:

    • info: Print informational messages in cyan.
    • debug: Print debug messages in magenta for troubleshooting.
    • note: Print general notes in blue for context or reminders.
    • success: Print success messages in green to indicate successful operations.

    Sample:

    info "Starting backup..."
debug "Current value: " + str(42)
note "This script was last updated on 2024-06-01."
success "Backup completed successfully!"

  • Repeat Loops Added the repeat keyword for concise, fixed-count iteration:

    • Syntax: repeat 5 { ... } or repeat n { ... }
    • The default loop variable i is available inside the block, starting from 0.
    • Supports break and continue for flexible control flow.

    Sample:

    repeat 3 {
    println("Iteration:", i)
}
// Output:
// Iteration: 0
// Iteration: 1
// Iteration: 2

  • Function Default Parameters & Overloading Enhanced function definitions and calls:

    • Functions can now specify default values for parameters (e.g., func(name = "Guest")).
    • Function overloading and default parameters work seamlessly together.
    • Improved error messages for missing or ambiguous arguments, including line numbers and code snippets.

    Sample:

    let greet = func(name = "Guest") {
    println("Hello, " + name)
}
greet()        // Hello, Guest
greet("Alice") // Hello, Alice

let add = func(a, b = 10) {
    return a + b
}
println(add(5))      // 15
println(add(5, 2))   // 7

  • Pointer Improvements Improved pointer handling and documentation:

    • Added clear, safe pointer operations and examples.
    • See the updated pointers.md for details and best practices.

    Sample:

    let x = 10
let p = &x      // Create a pointer to x
println(*p)     // Dereference pointer, prints 10
*p = 20         // Set value via pointer
println(x)      // Prints 20

  • Error Messages All runtime and compile-time errors are now more descriptive:

    • Function call errors include the function name, argument count, line number, and a code snippet.
    • General error messages are clearer and more actionable for users.

    Sample:

    greet(1, 2, 3)
// Error: No matching overload for function 'greet' with 3 arguments at line 5. Source: greet(1, 2, 3)

Documentation & Examples

  • Comprehensive documentation for all new features, including declaratives, repeat loops, and pointer usage.
  • Updated and expanded code examples and tests to cover new language constructs and behaviors.

Refactoring & Code Quality

  • Reduced code duplication in built-in functions and improved internal consistency.
  • Refactored database modules (mysql, postgres) for clarity and reliability.
  • Enhanced error handling and reporting throughout the codebase.

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed error message formatting in the evaluator and math module.
  • Improved handling of nil/null values and edge cases in core modules.

Miscellaneous

  • Cleaned up obsolete files and improved project structure for maintainability.
  • Commented out the main function in test_vm.go for easier manual testing.

Compiler & Virtual Machine (VM) Foundation

  • New Bytecode Compiler & VM

    • Introduced a modern bytecode compiler and virtual machine for VintLang.
    • Supports integer arithmetic, boolean logic, and comparison operators.
    • Comprehensive tests for the compiler and VM ensure correctness and performance.
    • Lays the groundwork for future optimizations and advanced language features.

    Sample:

    // See test_vm.go for bytecode/VM usage and manual tests

Summary: These updates make VintLang more expressive, robust, and user-friendly. The language now supports modern declarative statements, flexible iteration, advanced function features, and improved error reporting—all backed by a new VM/compiler foundation for future growth.