attribute (attribute --)

Inputs

• attribute: Known, non-NIL Text holding an LLVM attribute specifier, for example section ".names".

Outputs

• None.

attribute consumes one known Text and stores it as the pending attribute specifier of the current scope. The specifier is attached to the LLVM constant of the next known Text object created in that scope, typically the next Text literal, and is then cleared. The specifier text is emitted verbatim after the constant definition, so it must be valid LLVM global-variable attribute syntax.

The builtin changes only generated code. The affected Text object stays an ordinary known Text at compile time, and no local, field, or pending declaration modifier is created by the builtin itself.

Behavior

• The pending specifier is consumed by the next known Text object created in the same scope. Mentioning or copying an existing Text local does not create an object and therefore does not consume it.
• Only the first created Text receives the specifier: in "gamma" "delta" & the constant for "gamma" carries it, while "delta" and the concatenation result do not.
• A Text literal that is itself the input of a following attribute also counts as a created Text and consumes a specifier that is still pending.
• Calling attribute while a specifier is still pending is invalid: Attribute specifier is duplicate.
• A specifier that is still pending when its scope ends is invalid: Attribute specifier was not used. This includes a Block scope that ends without creating a Text.

Example

{} 0 {} [
  "section \".names\"" attribute
  first: "alpha";
  second: "beta";

  "-- both locals are ordinary known Text values --" printCompilerMessage
  first printStack _:;
  second printStack _:;

  0
] "main" exportFunction

Expected Output During Compilation

-- both locals are ordinary known Text values --
"alpha"
"beta"

In the generated LLVM IR only the first literal carries the specifier:

@2 = private constant [5 x i8] c"alpha", section ".names"
@3 = private constant [4 x i8] c"beta"

See also

• & builtin (prefix suffix -- text) Concatenates two known Text objects.
• LF builtin (-- lineFeed) Pushes a line-feed Text constant.
• exportFunction builtin (inputsSchema output options callable name --) Exports a named function; its options descriptor, not attribute, controls function-level settings such as the calling convention.
• textSize builtin (text -- size) Returns the UTF-8 code-unit (byte) count of a Text object as known or unknown Natx; known NIL text is invalid.
• textSplit builtin (text -- characterList) Splits known Text by decoded UTF-8 characters into one-character Text items. Empty text yields the empty Tuple ().