Strings & Parse

These are good first stdlib modules because they solve simple, familiar problems:

• work with text
• turn text into typed values

std.strings

Use std.strings when you want small text helpers without leaving the beginner path.

import std.strings as strings;

Current API:

• strings.len(str) -> int
• strings.copy(str) -> str
• strings.concat(str, str) -> str
• strings.from_int(int) -> str
• strings.eq(str, str) -> bool
• strings.starts_with(str, str) -> bool
• strings.ends_with(str, str) -> bool

Small example

import std.strings as strings;

fn:int main() {
    let left:str = strings.copy("hello");
    let number:str = strings.from_int(42);
    let joined:str = strings.concat(left, " world");

    if strings.starts_with(joined, "hello") == false {
        free left;
        free number;
        free joined;
        return 1;
    }

    print(number);
    print(joined);
    free left;
    free number;
    free joined;
    return 0;
}

What to notice:

• strings.copy(...) creates an owned string
• strings.from_int(...) also creates an owned string
• strings.concat(...) creates another owned string
• all three should be freed

ownership

strings.copy(...), strings.concat(...), and strings.from_int(...) return owned strings. Free them when you are done.

std.parse

Use std.parse when you have text and want to turn it into a typed value.

import std.parse as parse;

Current API:

• parse.to_int(str) -> result int
• parse.to_bool(str) -> result bool

Small example

import std.parse as parse;

fn:int main() {
    let value:result int = parse.to_int("42");
    if value.ok {
        return value.value;
    }
    return 0;
}

What to notice:

• parsing can fail
• that is why the return type is result int
• you check .ok before using .value

parsing stays explicit

cnegative does not silently invent fallback values for bad input. The parse either succeeds or it does not.

Beginner recommendation

Start with these functions first:

• strings.len(...)
• strings.eq(...)
• strings.copy(...)
• parse.to_int(...)

That is enough for many first CLI programs.