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Add ex 35,36 enums; updated README

I'm changing the order of some more topics. Trying to explain the value
of pointers when we're mostly dealing with stack-sized values like
integers feels convoluted. So I'm starting with enums (which also has a
nice segue from an earlier "switch" exercise). Then structs. Then unions
(just in keeping with the order of these items on ziglearn.org) and THEN
pointers and multi-pointers and slices.
Dave Gauer 4 years ago
parent
commit
2cded107cd
4 changed files with 131 additions and 5 deletions
  1. 49 0
      35_enums.zig
  2. 61 0
      36_enums2.zig
  3. 19 5
      README.md
  4. 2 0
      ziglings

+ 49 - 0
35_enums.zig

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+//
+// Remember that little mathematical virtual machine we made using the
+// "unreachable" statement?  Well, there were two problems with the
+// way we were using op codes:
+//
+//   1. Having to remember op codes by number is no good.
+//   2. We had to use "unreachable" because Zig had no way of knowing
+//      how many valid op codes there were.
+// 
+// An "enum" is a Zig construct that lets you give names to numeric
+// values and store them in a set. They look a lot like error sets:
+//
+//     const Fruit = enum{ apple, pear, orange };
+//
+//     const my_fruit = Fruit.apple;
+//
+// Let's use an enum in place of the numbers we were using in the
+// previous version!
+// 
+const std = @import("std");
+
+// Please complete the enum!
+const Ops = enum{ ??? };
+
+pub fn main() void {
+    const operations = [_]Ops{
+        Ops.inc,
+        Ops.inc,
+        Ops.inc,
+        Ops.pow,
+        Ops.dec,
+        Ops.dec
+    };
+
+    var current_value: u32 = 0;
+
+    for (operations) |op| {
+        switch (op) {
+            Ops.inc  => { current_value += 1; },
+            Ops.dec  => { current_value -= 1; },
+            Ops.pow  => { current_value *= current_value; },
+            // No "else" needed! Why is that?
+        }
+
+        std.debug.print("{} ", .{current_value});
+    }
+
+    std.debug.print("\n", .{});
+}

+ 61 - 0
36_enums2.zig

@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+//
+// Enums are really just a set of numbers. You can leave the
+// numbering up to the compiler, or you can assign them
+// explicitly. You can even specify the numeric type used.
+//
+//     const Stuff = enum(u8){ foo = 16 };
+//
+// You can get the integer out with a built-in function:
+//
+//     var my_stuff: u8 = @enumToInt(Stuff.foo);
+//
+// Note how that built-in function starts with "@" just like the
+// @import() function we've been using.
+//
+const std = @import("std");
+
+// Zig lets us write integers in hexadecimal format:
+//
+//     0xf (is the value 15 in hex) 
+//
+// Web browsers let us specify colors using a hexadecimal
+// number where each byte represents the brightness of the
+// Red, Green, or Blue component (RGB) where two hex digits
+// are one byte with a value range of 0-255:
+//
+//     #RRGGBB
+//
+// Please define and use a pure blue value Color:
+const Color = enum(u32){
+    red   = 0xff0000,
+    green = 0x00ff00,
+    blue  = ???,
+};
+
+pub fn main() void {
+    // Remeber Zig's multi-line strings? Here they are again.
+    // Also, check out this cool format string:
+    //
+    //     {x:0>6}
+    //      ^
+    //      x       type ('x' is lower-case hexadecimal)
+    //       :      separator (needed for format syntax)
+    //        0     padding character (default is ' ')
+    //         >    alignment ('>' aligns right)
+    //          6   width (use padding to force width)
+    //
+    // Please add this formatting to the blue value.
+    // (Even better, experiment without it, or try parts of it
+    // to see what prints!)
+    std.debug.print(
+        \\<p>
+        \\  <span style="color: #{x:0>6}">Red</span>
+        \\  <span style="color: #{x:0>6}">Green</span>
+        \\  <span style="color: #{}">Blue</span>
+        \\</p>
+        , .{
+             @enumToInt(Color.red),
+             @enumToInt(Color.green),
+             @enumToInt(???),         // Oops! We're missing something!
+           });
+}

+ 19 - 5
README.md

@@ -9,6 +9,18 @@ This project was directly inspired by the brilliant and fun
 [rustlings](https://github.com/rust-lang/rustlings)
 project for the [Rust](https://www.rust-lang.org/) language.
 
+## Intended Audience
+
+This will probably be quite difficult if you've _never_ programmed before.
+However, no specific programming experience is required. And in particular,
+you are _not_ expected to know C or other "systems programming" language.
+
+Each exercise is self-contained and self-explained. However, you're encouraged
+to also check out these Zig language resources for more detail:
+
+* https://ziglearn.org/
+* https://ziglang.org/documentation/master/
+
 ## Getting Started
 
 _Note: This currently uses a shell (Bash) script to automate the "game". A
@@ -53,7 +65,7 @@ the learning resource I wished for. There will be tons of room for improvement:
 * Wording of explanations
 * Idiomatic usage of Zig
 * Additional exercises
-* Re-write the `ziglings` script using the Zig build system (???)
+* Re-write the `ziglings` script using the Zig build system (or just a Zig application)
 
 Planned exercises:
 
@@ -70,13 +82,13 @@ Planned exercises:
 * [x] Defer (and errdefer)
 * [x] Switch
 * [x] Unreachable
+* [x] Enums
+* [ ] Structs
+* [ ] Unions
 * [ ] Pointers
 * [ ] Pointer sized integers
 * [ ] Multi pointers
 * [ ] Slices
-* [ ] Enums
-* [ ] Structs
-* [ ] Unions
 * [ ] Integer rules
 * [ ] Floats
 * [ ] Labelled blocks
@@ -91,4 +103,6 @@ Planned exercises:
 * [ ] Imports
 
 The initial topics for these exercises were unabashedly cribbed from
-[ziglearn.org](https://ziglearn.org/).
+[ziglearn.org](https://ziglearn.org/). I've since moved things around
+in an order that I think best lets each topic build upon each other.
+

+ 2 - 0
ziglings

@@ -102,6 +102,8 @@ check_it 31_switch2.zig "ZIG!"
 check_it 32_unreachable.zig "1 2 3 9 8 7"
 check_it 33_iferror.zig "2<4. 3<4. 4=4. 5>4. 6>4." "Seriously, what's the deal with fours?"
 check_it 34_quiz4.zig "my_num=42" "Can you make this work?"
+check_it 35_enums.zig "1 2 3 9 8 7" "This problem seems familiar..."
+check_it 36_enums2.zig "#0000ff" "I'm feeling blue about this."
 
 echo
 echo "    __   __          _ "