redrope-lang 0.1.0

A tiny capability-based language where syntax and power are loaded through binary knouts.

Red Rope

Red Rope is a tiny capability-based language where syntax and runtime power are loaded explicitly from binary .kn modules, also called knouts.

This repository contains a dependency-free Python reference implementation for the 0.1.0 draft language spec. See SPEC.md for the current behavior.

Quick Start

Build the example knouts:

python -m redrope.tools.build_examples

Run the example program:

python -m redrope examples/hello.rr

After installing the package, the same program can be run with:

redrope examples/hello.rr

Expected output:

Hello from Red Rope

Example Program

load ../modules/printing.kn
load ../modules/pythonstyle.kn

print("Hello from Red Rope")

Nothing except load exists before modules are loaded. Runtime modules provide capabilities such as print; syntax modules provide statement forms such as print({x}).

Syntax modules merge when loaded. Newer syntax rules are checked first, so a later module can override a matching shape while earlier non-conflicting rules remain available.

Writing Knouts

Human-authored modules use .knsrc and compile to binary .kn with knc:

python -m redrope.knc module_src/pythonstyle.knsrc -o modules/pythonstyle.kn

After installing the package:

knc module_src/pythonstyle.knsrc -o modules/pythonstyle.kn

Example runtime module:

module printing runtime
metadata version=1.0
export print function
native print rr_print_stdout

Example syntax module:

module pythonstyle syntax
metadata version=1.0
rule print({x}) -> call print x

Rule actions may use shorthand calls, where identifiers are captures:

rule display {x} -> call print x

They may also use explicit VM actions separated by semicolons:

rule banner {x} -> load_const ">>> "; load_capture x; concat; invoke print 1

Project Layout

• redrope/: reference interpreter, module loader, tokenizer, VM, and CLI.
• redrope/knc.py: compiles .knsrc module source files to binary .kn knouts.
• redrope/tools/build_examples.py: compiles the sample .knsrc modules and writes example .rr programs.
• module_src/: human-readable sample module sources.
• examples/hello.rr: minimal Red Rope program.
• examples/merged.rr: demonstrates syntax merging.
• tests/: unit tests for the core v0.1 behavior.

Current Scope

Implemented:

• line-oriented .rr execution
• core comments and load
• local .kn module loading
• .kn header and section validation
• exports, native bindings, compiled syntax, and bytecode actions
• .knsrc to .kn compiler
• syntax merging with newest-rule precedence
• stack-based VM opcodes: LOAD_CONST, LOAD_CAPTURE, CALL, HALT
• stack/value VM opcodes: LOAD_NUMBER, POP, DUP, SWAP, CONCAT
• host native binding for rr_print_stdout

Not implemented yet:

• remote module loading or remote execution; both are reserved for a future trust-policy design
• signatures/checksums/trust policy
• unload, namespaces, variables, control flow, or user-defined functions