Language rules

This page records the rules that define Arkoi’s behavior.

Naming

• Identifiers name functions, variables, and parameters.
• Type names are written with the @ prefix in source code.
• Source files use the .ark extension.

Typing

• Function parameters carry explicit type annotations.
• Variable declarations carry explicit type annotations.
• Function return types carry explicit type annotations.
• The primitive type set includes @s32, @u32, @u64, @f32, @f64, and @bool.

Scope

• Each function introduces a new scope.
• Variables live within the block where they are declared.
• Parameters are available throughout the function body.

Control flow

• if starts a conditional branch.
• else if adds another conditional branch.
• else provides the fallback branch.
• while repeats its body while the condition remains true.
• return ends execution of the current function.

Expressions and operators

• Arithmetic uses +, -, *, and /.
• Comparisons use <, <=, >, >=, ==, and !=.
• Boolean logic uses && and ||.
• Parentheses group expressions and control evaluation order.

Precedence

From highest to lowest, operator precedence follows this order:

1. Parentheses
2. Multiplication and division
3. Addition and subtraction
4. Comparison
5. Equality
6. Boolean &&
7. Boolean ||

Conversion

Type conversion uses explicit casts when a value changes representation.

Style rules

• Use indentation to define blocks.
• Keep function bodies direct and readable.