Monkey is a simple and easy-to-learn programming language that was created by Peter Tolstrup Nielsen in 2008. It is a dynamically-typed language, meaning that variable types are determined at runtime, and is designed to be cross-platform. Monkey is also an interpreted language, meaning that code is executed directly without the need for compilation. In this guide, we will provide an overview of the Monkey language, how to write it, and the best applications for it.
Overview of the Monkey Language:
Monkey is a relatively simple language with a small set of core features. It supports basic data types like integers, floats, and strings, as well as arrays and dictionaries. Monkey also has support for functions, loops, and conditionals, making it a suitable language for small to medium-sized programs.
How to Write Monkey Code:
Writing code in Monkey is fairly simple and straightforward. The basic structure of a Monkey program is as follows:
```
// This is a comment in Monkey
function main() {
// Code goes here
}
```
As shown in the example, code blocks in Monkey are defined using curly braces `{}`. A `function` keyword is used to define functions, and the `main()` function is the entry point of a Monkey program.
Here is an example program in Monkey that prints out the numbers 1 to 10:
```
function main() {
for (i = 1; i <= 10; i = i + 1) {
print(i);
}
}
```
As you can see, Monkey code is easy to read and write.
Applications of Monkey:
While Monkey is not as widely used as some other programming languages, it has some useful applications. One area where Monkey shines is in game development. Monkey has a built-in game engine that provides features like sprite rendering, physics simulation, and audio playback. Additionally, Monkey has support for many popular game development frameworks like Unity and Unreal Engine.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Monkey is a simple and easy-to-learn programming language that is well-suited for small to medium-sized programs. It has a small set of core features and is designed to be cross-platform. While Monkey may not be as widely used as some other programming languages, it has some useful applications in game development. We hope that this guide has provided a good introduction to the Monkey language and has inspired you to try it out for yourself.