lib/standard: fixes annotations usage

[nit.git] / lib / standard / string.nit

# This file is part of NIT ( http://www.nitlanguage.org ).
#
# Copyright 2004-2008 Jean Privat <jean@pryen.org>
# Copyright 2006-2008 Floréal Morandat <morandat@lirmm.fr>
#
# This file is free software, which comes along with NIT.  This software is
# distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY;
# without  even  the implied warranty of  MERCHANTABILITY or  FITNESS FOR A
# PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  You can modify it is you want,  provided this header
# is kept unaltered, and a notification of the changes is added.
# You  are  allowed  to  redistribute it and sell it, alone or is a part of
# another product.

# Basic manipulations of strings of characters
module string

import math
import collection
intrude import collection::array

`{
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
`}

###############################################################################
# String                                                                      #
###############################################################################

# High-level abstraction for all text representations
abstract class Text
        super Comparable

        redef type OTHER: Text

        # Type of self (used for factorization of several methods, ex : substring_from, empty...)
        type SELFTYPE: Text

        # Gets a view on the chars of the Text object
        #
        #     assert "hello".chars.to_a == ['h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o']
        fun chars: SequenceRead[Char] is abstract

        # Number of characters contained in self.
        #
        #     assert "12345".length == 5
        #     assert "".length == 0
        fun length: Int is abstract

        # Create a substring.
        #
        #     assert "abcd".substring(1, 2)      ==  "bc"
        #     assert "abcd".substring(-1, 2)     ==  "a"
        #     assert "abcd".substring(1, 0)      ==  ""
        #     assert "abcd".substring(2, 5)      ==  "cd"
        #
        # A `from` index < 0 will be replaced by 0.
        # Unless a `count` value is > 0 at the same time.
        # In this case, `from += count` and `count -= from`.
        fun substring(from: Int, count: Int): SELFTYPE is abstract

        # Iterates on the substrings of self if any
        fun substrings: Iterator[Text] is abstract

        # Is the current Text empty (== "")
        #
        #     assert "".is_empty
        #     assert not "foo".is_empty
        fun is_empty: Bool do return self.length == 0

        # Returns an empty Text of the right type
        #
        # This method is used internally to get the right
        # implementation of an empty string.
        protected fun empty: SELFTYPE is abstract

        # Gets the first char of the Text
        #
        # DEPRECATED : Use self.chars.first instead
        fun first: Char do return self.chars[0]

        # Access a character at `index` in the string.
        #
        #     assert "abcd"[2]         == 'c'
        #
        # DEPRECATED : Use self.chars.[] instead
        fun [](index: Int): Char do return self.chars[index]

        # Gets the index of the first occurence of 'c'
        #
        # Returns -1 if not found
        #
        # DEPRECATED : Use self.chars.index_of instead
        fun index_of(c: Char): Int
        do
                return index_of_from(c, 0)
        end

        # Gets the last char of self
        #
        # DEPRECATED : Use self.chars.last instead
        fun last: Char do return self.chars[length-1]

        # Gets the index of the first occurence of ´c´ starting from ´pos´
        #
        # Returns -1 if not found
        #
        # DEPRECATED : Use self.chars.index_of_from instead
        fun index_of_from(c: Char, pos: Int): Int
        do
                var iter = self.chars.iterator_from(pos)
                while iter.is_ok do
                        if iter.item == c then return iter.index
                        iter.next
                end
                return -1
        end

        # Gets the last index of char ´c´
        #
        # Returns -1 if not found
        #
        # DEPRECATED : Use self.chars.last_index_of instead
        fun last_index_of(c: Char): Int
        do
                return last_index_of_from(c, length - 1)
        end

        # Return a null terminated char *
        fun to_cstring: NativeString do return flatten.to_cstring

        # The index of the last occurrence of an element starting from pos (in reverse order).
        #
        #     var s = "/etc/bin/test/test.nit"
        #     assert s.last_index_of_from('/', s.length-1) == 13
        #     assert s.last_index_of_from('/', 12)         == 8
        #
        # Returns -1 if not found
        #
        # DEPRECATED : Use self.chars.last_index_of_from instead
        fun last_index_of_from(item: Char, pos: Int): Int
        do
                var iter = self.chars.reverse_iterator_from(pos)
                while iter.is_ok do
                        if iter.item == item then return iter.index
                        iter.next
                end
                return -1
        end

        # Gets an iterator on the chars of self
        #
        # DEPRECATED : Use self.chars.iterator instead
        fun iterator: Iterator[Char]
        do
                return self.chars.iterator
        end


        # Gets an Array containing the chars of self
        #
        # DEPRECATED : Use self.chars.to_a instead
        fun to_a: Array[Char] do return chars.to_a

        # Create a substring from `self` beginning at the `from` position
        #
        #     assert "abcd".substring_from(1)    ==  "bcd"
        #     assert "abcd".substring_from(-1)   ==  "abcd"
        #     assert "abcd".substring_from(2)    ==  "cd"
        #
        # As with substring, a `from` index < 0 will be replaced by 0
        fun substring_from(from: Int): SELFTYPE
        do
                if from >= self.length then return empty
                if from < 0 then from = 0
                return substring(from, length - from)
        end

        # Does self have a substring `str` starting from position `pos`?
        #
        #     assert "abcd".has_substring("bc",1)            ==  true
        #     assert "abcd".has_substring("bc",2)            ==  false
        #
        # Returns true iff all characters of `str` are presents
        # at the expected index in `self.`
        # The first character of `str` being at `pos`, the second
        # character being at `pos+1` and so on...
        #
        # This means that all characters of `str` need to be inside `self`.
        #
        #     assert "abcd".has_substring("xab", -1)         == false
        #     assert "abcd".has_substring("cdx", 2)          == false
        #
        # And that the empty string is always a valid substring.
        #
        #     assert "abcd".has_substring("", 2)             == true
        #     assert "abcd".has_substring("", 200)           == true
        fun has_substring(str: String, pos: Int): Bool
        do
                if str.is_empty then return true
                if pos < 0 or pos + str.length > length then return false
                var myiter = self.chars.iterator_from(pos)
                var itsiter = str.chars.iterator
                while myiter.is_ok and itsiter.is_ok do
                        if myiter.item != itsiter.item then return false
                        myiter.next
                        itsiter.next
                end
                if itsiter.is_ok then return false
                return true
        end

        # Is this string prefixed by `prefix`?
        #
        #     assert "abcd".has_prefix("ab")           ==  true
        #     assert "abcbc".has_prefix("bc")          ==  false
        #     assert "ab".has_prefix("abcd")           ==  false
        fun has_prefix(prefix: String): Bool do return has_substring(prefix,0)

        # Is this string suffixed by `suffix`?
        #
        #     assert "abcd".has_suffix("abc")        ==  false
        #     assert "abcd".has_suffix("bcd")        ==  true
        fun has_suffix(suffix: String): Bool do return has_substring(suffix, length - suffix.length)

        # If `self` contains only digits, return the corresponding integer
        #
        #     assert "123".to_i        == 123
        #     assert "-1".to_i         == -1
        fun to_i: Int
        do
                # Shortcut
                return to_s.to_cstring.atoi
        end

        # If `self` contains a float, return the corresponding float
        #
        #     assert "123".to_f        == 123.0
        #     assert "-1".to_f         == -1.0
        #     assert "-1.2e-3".to_f    == -0.0012
        fun to_f: Float
        do
                # Shortcut
                return to_s.to_cstring.atof
        end

        # If `self` contains only digits and alpha <= 'f', return the corresponding integer.
        #
        #     assert "ff".to_hex == 255
        fun to_hex: Int do return a_to(16)

        # If `self` contains only digits and letters, return the corresponding integer in a given base
        #
        #     assert "120".a_to(3)     == 15
        fun a_to(base: Int) : Int
        do
                var i = 0
                var neg = false

                for j in [0..length[ do
                        var c = chars[j]
                        var v = c.to_i
                        if v > base then
                                if neg then
                                        return -i
                                else
                                        return i
                                end
                        else if v < 0 then
                                neg = true
                        else
                                i = i * base + v
                        end
                end
                if neg then
                        return -i
                else
                        return i
                end
        end

        # Returns `true` if the string contains only Numeric values (and one "," or one "." character)
        #
        #     assert "123".is_numeric  == true
        #     assert "1.2".is_numeric  == true
        #     assert "1,2".is_numeric  == true
        #     assert "1..2".is_numeric == false
        fun is_numeric: Bool
        do
                var has_point_or_comma = false
                for i in [0..length[ do
                        var c = chars[i]
                        if not c.is_numeric then
                                if (c == '.' or c == ',') and not has_point_or_comma then
                                        has_point_or_comma = true
                                else
                                        return false
                                end
                        end
                end
                return true
        end

        # Returns `true` if the string contains only Hex chars
        #
        #     assert "048bf".is_hex  == true
        #     assert "ABCDEF".is_hex  == true
        #     assert "0G".is_hex == false
        fun is_hex: Bool
        do
                for i in [0..length[ do
                        var c = chars[i]
                        if not (c >= 'a' and c <= 'f') and
                           not (c >= 'A' and c <= 'F') and
                           not (c >= '0' and c <= '9') then return false
                end
                return true
        end

        # Are all letters in `self` upper-case ?
        #
        #     assert "HELLO WORLD".is_upper == true
        #     assert "%$&%!".is_upper       == true
        #     assert "hello world".is_upper == false
        #     assert "Hello World".is_upper == false
        fun is_upper: Bool
        do
                for i in [0..length[ do
                        var char = chars[i]
                        if char.is_lower then return false
                end
                return true
        end

        # Are all letters in `self` lower-case ?
        #
        #     assert "hello world".is_lower == true
        #     assert "%$&%!".is_lower       == true
        #     assert "Hello World".is_lower == false
        fun is_lower: Bool
        do
                for i in [0..length[ do
                        var char = chars[i]
                        if char.is_upper then return false
                end
                return true
        end
                        
        # Removes the whitespaces at the beginning of self
        #
        #     assert " \n\thello \n\t".l_trim == "hello \n\t"
        #
        # A whitespace is defined as any character which ascii value is less than or equal to 32
        fun l_trim: SELFTYPE
        do
                var iter = self.chars.iterator
                while iter.is_ok do
                        if iter.item.ascii > 32 then break
                        iter.next
                end
                if iter.index == length then return self.empty
                return self.substring_from(iter.index)
        end

        # Removes the whitespaces at the end of self
        #
        #     assert " \n\thello \n\t".r_trim == " \n\thello"
        #
        # A whitespace is defined as any character which ascii value is less than or equal to 32
        fun r_trim: SELFTYPE
        do
                var iter = self.chars.reverse_iterator
                while iter.is_ok do
                        if iter.item.ascii > 32 then break
                        iter.next
                end
                if iter.index < 0 then return self.empty
                return self.substring(0, iter.index + 1)
        end

        # Trims trailing and preceding white spaces
        # A whitespace is defined as any character which ascii value is less than or equal to 32
        #
        #     assert "  Hello  World !  ".trim   == "Hello  World !"
        #     assert "\na\nb\tc\t".trim          == "a\nb\tc"
        fun trim: SELFTYPE do return (self.l_trim).r_trim

        # Returns `self` removed from its last `\n` (if any).
        #
        #    assert "Hello\n".chomp == "Hello"
        #    assert "Hello".chomp   == "Hello"
        #    assert "\n\n\n".chomp  == "\n\n"
        #
        # This method is mainly used to remove the LINE_FEED character from lines of text.
        fun chomp: SELFTYPE
        do
                if self.chars.last != '\n' then return self
                return substring(0, length-1)
        end

        # Justify a self in a space of `length`
        #
        # `left` is the space ratio on the left side.
        # * 0.0 for left-justified (no space at the left)
        # * 1.0 for right-justified (all spaces at the left)
        # * 0.5 for centered (half the spaces at the left)
        #
        # Examples
        #
        #     assert "hello".justify(10, 0.0)  == "hello     "
        #     assert "hello".justify(10, 1.0)  == "     hello"
        #     assert "hello".justify(10, 0.5)  == "  hello   "
        #
        # If `length` is not enough, `self` is returned as is.
        #
        #     assert "hello".justify(2, 0.0)   == "hello"
        #
        # REQUIRE: `left >= 0.0 and left <= 1.0`
        # ENSURE: `self.length <= length implies result.length == length`
        # ENSURE: `self.length >= length implies result == self`
        fun justify(length: Int, left: Float): SELFTYPE
        do
                var diff = length - self.length
                if diff <= 0 then return self
                assert left >= 0.0 and left <= 1.0
                var before = (diff.to_f * left).to_i
                return " " * before + self + " " * (diff-before)
        end

        # Mangle a string to be a unique string only made of alphanumeric characters
        fun to_cmangle: String
        do
                var res = new FlatBuffer
                var underscore = false
                for i in [0..length[ do
                        var c = chars[i]
                        if (c >= 'a' and c <= 'z') or (c >='A' and c <= 'Z') then
                                res.add(c)
                                underscore = false
                                continue
                        end
                        if underscore then
                                res.append('_'.ascii.to_s)
                                res.add('d')
                        end
                        if c >= '0' and c <= '9' then
                                res.add(c)
                                underscore = false
                        else if c == '_' then
                                res.add(c)
                                underscore = true
                        else
                                res.add('_')
                                res.append(c.ascii.to_s)
                                res.add('d')
                                underscore = false
                        end
                end
                return res.to_s
        end

        # Escape " \ ' and non printable characters using the rules of literal C strings and characters
        #
        #     assert "abAB12<>&".escape_to_c         == "abAB12<>&"
        #     assert "\n\"'\\".escape_to_c         == "\\n\\\"\\'\\\\"
        fun escape_to_c: String
        do
                var b = new FlatBuffer
                for i in [0..length[ do
                        var c = chars[i]
                        if c == '\n' then
                                b.append("\\n")
                        else if c == '\0' then
                                b.append("\\0")
                        else if c == '"' then
                                b.append("\\\"")
                        else if c == '\'' then
                                b.append("\\\'")
                        else if c == '\\' then
                                b.append("\\\\")
                        else if c.ascii < 32 then
                                b.append("\\{c.ascii.to_base(8, false)}")
                        else
                                b.add(c)
                        end
                end
                return b.to_s
        end

        # Escape additionnal characters
        # The result might no be legal in C but be used in other languages
        #
        #     assert "ab|\{\}".escape_more_to_c("|\{\}") == "ab\\|\\\{\\\}"
        fun escape_more_to_c(chars: String): String
        do
                var b = new FlatBuffer
                for c in escape_to_c.chars do
                        if chars.chars.has(c) then
                                b.add('\\')
                        end
                        b.add(c)
                end
                return b.to_s
        end

        # Escape to C plus braces
        #
        #     assert "\n\"'\\\{\}".escape_to_nit      == "\\n\\\"\\'\\\\\\\{\\\}"
        fun escape_to_nit: String do return escape_more_to_c("\{\}")

        # Escape to POSIX Shell (sh).
        #
        # Abort if the text contains a null byte.
        #
        #     assert "\n\"'\\\{\}0".escape_to_sh == "'\n\"'\\''\\\{\}0'"
        fun escape_to_sh: String do
                var b = new FlatBuffer
                b.chars.add '\''
                for i in [0..length[ do
                        var c = chars[i]
                        if c == '\'' then
                                b.append("'\\''")
                        else
                                assert without_null_byte: c != '\0'
                                b.add(c)
                        end
                end
                b.chars.add '\''
                return b.to_s
        end

        # Escape to include in a Makefile
        #
        # Unfortunately, some characters are not escapable in Makefile.
        # These characters are `;`, `|`, `\`, and the non-printable ones.
        # They will be rendered as `"?{hex}"`.
        fun escape_to_mk: String do
                var b = new FlatBuffer
                for i in [0..length[ do
                        var c = chars[i]
                        if c == '$' then
                                b.append("$$")
                        else if c == ':' or c == ' ' or c == '#' then
                                b.add('\\')
                                b.add(c)
                        else if c.ascii < 32 or c == ';' or c == '|' or c == '\\' or c == '=' then
                                b.append("?{c.ascii.to_base(16, false)}")
                        else
                                b.add(c)
                        end
                end
                return b.to_s
        end

        # Return a string where Nit escape sequences are transformed.
        #
        #     var s = "\\n"
        #     assert s.length        ==  2
        #     var u = s.unescape_nit
        #     assert u.length        ==  1
        #     assert u.chars[0].ascii      ==  10 # (the ASCII value of the "new line" character)
        fun unescape_nit: String
        do
                var res = new FlatBuffer.with_capacity(self.length)
                var was_slash = false
                for i in [0..length[ do
                        var c = chars[i]
                        if not was_slash then
                                if c == '\\' then
                                        was_slash = true
                                else
                                        res.add(c)
                                end
                                continue
                        end
                        was_slash = false
                        if c == 'n' then
                                res.add('\n')
                        else if c == 'r' then
                                res.add('\r')
                        else if c == 't' then
                                res.add('\t')
                        else if c == '0' then
                                res.add('\0')
                        else
                                res.add(c)
                        end
                end
                return res.to_s
        end

        # Encode `self` to percent (or URL) encoding
        #
        #     assert "aBc09-._~".to_percent_encoding == "aBc09-._~"
        #     assert "%()< >".to_percent_encoding == "%25%28%29%3c%20%3e"
        #     assert ".com/post?e=asdf&f=123".to_percent_encoding == ".com%2fpost%3fe%3dasdf%26f%3d123"
        fun to_percent_encoding: String
        do
                var buf = new FlatBuffer

                for i in [0..length[ do
                        var c = chars[i]
                        if (c >= '0' and c <= '9') or
                           (c >= 'a' and c <= 'z') or
                           (c >= 'A' and c <= 'Z') or
                           c == '-' or c == '.' or
                           c == '_' or c == '~'
                        then
                                buf.add c
                        else buf.append "%{c.ascii.to_hex}"
                end

                return buf.to_s
        end

        # Decode `self` from percent (or URL) encoding to a clear string
        #
        # Replace invalid use of '%' with '?'.
        #
        #     assert "aBc09-._~".from_percent_encoding == "aBc09-._~"
        #     assert "%25%28%29%3c%20%3e".from_percent_encoding == "%()< >"
        #     assert ".com%2fpost%3fe%3dasdf%26f%3d123".from_percent_encoding == ".com/post?e=asdf&f=123"
        #     assert "%25%28%29%3C%20%3E".from_percent_encoding == "%()< >"
        #     assert "incomplete %".from_percent_encoding == "incomplete ?"
        #     assert "invalid % usage".from_percent_encoding == "invalid ? usage"
        fun from_percent_encoding: String
        do
                var buf = new FlatBuffer

                var i = 0
                while i < length do
                        var c = chars[i]
                        if c == '%' then
                                if i + 2 >= length then
                                        # What follows % has been cut off
                                        buf.add '?'
                                else
                                        i += 1
                                        var hex_s = substring(i, 2)
                                        if hex_s.is_hex then
                                                var hex_i = hex_s.to_hex
                                                buf.add hex_i.ascii
                                                i += 1
                                        else
                                                # What follows a % is not Hex
                                                buf.add '?'
                                                i -= 1
                                        end
                                end
                        else buf.add c

                        i += 1
                end

                return buf.to_s
        end

        # Escape the characters `<`, `>`, `&`, `"`, `'` and `/` as HTML/XML entity references.
        #
        #     assert "a&b-<>\"x\"/'".html_escape      ==  "a&amp;b-&lt;&gt;&#34;x&#34;&#47;&#39;"
        #
        # SEE: <https://www.owasp.org/index.php/XSS_%28Cross_Site_Scripting%29_Prevention_Cheat_Sheet#RULE_.231_-_HTML_Escape_Before_Inserting_Untrusted_Data_into_HTML_Element_Content>
        fun html_escape: SELFTYPE
        do
                var buf = new FlatBuffer

                for i in [0..length[ do
                        var c = chars[i]
                        if c == '&' then
                                buf.append "&amp;"
                        else if c == '<' then
                                buf.append "&lt;"
                        else if c == '>' then
                                buf.append "&gt;"
                        else if c == '"' then
                                buf.append "&#34;"
                        else if c == '\'' then
                                buf.append "&#39;"
                        else if c == '/' then
                                buf.append "&#47;"
                        else buf.add c
                end

                return buf.to_s
        end

        # Equality of text
        # Two pieces of text are equals if thez have the same characters in the same order.
        #
        #     assert "hello" == "hello"
        #     assert "hello" != "HELLO"
        #     assert "hello" == "hel"+"lo"
        #
        # Things that are not Text are not equal.
        #
        #     assert "9" != '9'
        #     assert "9" != ['9']
        #     assert "9" != 9
        #
        #     assert "9".chars.first == '9'   # equality of Char
        #     assert "9".chars       == ['9'] # equality of Sequence
        #     assert "9".to_i        == 9     # equality of Int
        redef fun ==(o)
        do
                if o == null then return false
                if not o isa Text then return false
                if self.is_same_instance(o) then return true
                if self.length != o.length then return false
                return self.chars == o.chars
        end

        # Lexicographical comparaison
        #
        #     assert "abc" < "xy"
        #     assert "ABC" < "abc"
        redef fun <(other)
        do
                var self_chars = self.chars.iterator
                var other_chars = other.chars.iterator

                while self_chars.is_ok and other_chars.is_ok do
                        if self_chars.item < other_chars.item then return true
                        if self_chars.item > other_chars.item then return false
                        self_chars.next
                        other_chars.next
                end

                if self_chars.is_ok then
                        return false
                else
                        return true
                end
        end

        # Escape string used in labels for graphviz
        #
        #   assert ">><<".escape_to_dot == "\\>\\>\\<\\<"
        fun escape_to_dot: String
        do
                return escape_more_to_c("|\{\}<>")
        end

        # Flat representation of self
        fun flatten: FlatText is abstract

        private var hash_cache: nullable Int = null

        redef fun hash
        do
                if hash_cache == null then
                        # djb2 hash algorithm
                        var h = 5381

                        for i in [0..length[ do
                                var char = chars[i]
                                h = h.lshift(5) + h + char.ascii
                        end

                        hash_cache = h
                end
                return hash_cache.as(not null)
        end

end

# All kinds of array-based text representations.
abstract class FlatText
        super Text

        # Underlying C-String (`char*`)
        #
        # Warning : Might be void in some subclasses, be sure to check
        # if set before using it.
        private var items: NativeString is noinit

        # Real items, used as cache for to_cstring is called
        private var real_items: nullable NativeString = null

        redef var length: Int = 0

        redef fun output
        do
                var i = 0
                while i < length do
                        items[i].output
                        i += 1
                end
        end

        redef fun flatten do return self
end

# Abstract class for the SequenceRead compatible
# views on String and Buffer objects
private abstract class StringCharView
        super SequenceRead[Char]

        type SELFTYPE: Text

        var target: SELFTYPE

        redef fun is_empty do return target.is_empty

        redef fun length do return target.length

        redef fun iterator: IndexedIterator[Char] do return self.iterator_from(0)

        redef fun reverse_iterator do return self.reverse_iterator_from(self.length - 1)
end

# View on Buffer objects, extends Sequence
# for mutation operations
private abstract class BufferCharView
        super StringCharView
        super Sequence[Char]

        redef type SELFTYPE: Buffer

end

# A `String` holds and manipulates an arbitrary sequence of characters.
#
# String objects may be created using literals.
#
#     assert "Hello World!" isa String
abstract class String
        super Text

        redef type SELFTYPE: String

        redef fun to_s do return self

        # Concatenates `o` to `self`
        #
        #     assert "hello" + "world"  == "helloworld"
        #     assert "" + "hello" + ""  == "hello"
        fun +(o: Text): SELFTYPE is abstract

        # Concatenates self `i` times
        #
        #     assert "abc" * 4 == "abcabcabcabc"
        #     assert "abc" * 1 == "abc"
        #     assert "abc" * 0 == ""
        fun *(i: Int): SELFTYPE is abstract

        # Insert `s` at `pos`.
        #
        #     assert "helloworld".insert_at(" ", 5)     == "hello world"
        fun insert_at(s: String, pos: Int): SELFTYPE is abstract

        redef fun substrings: Iterator[String] is abstract

        # Returns a reversed version of self
        #
        #     assert "hello".reversed  == "olleh"
        #     assert "bob".reversed    == "bob"
        #     assert "".reversed       == ""
        fun reversed: SELFTYPE is abstract

        # A upper case version of `self`
        #
        #     assert "Hello World!".to_upper     == "HELLO WORLD!"
        fun to_upper: SELFTYPE is abstract

        # A lower case version of `self`
        #
        #     assert "Hello World!".to_lower     == "hello world!"
        fun to_lower : SELFTYPE is abstract

        # Takes a camel case `self` and converts it to snake case 
        #
        #     assert "randomMethodId".to_snake_case == "random_method_id"
        #
        # If `self` is upper, it is returned unchanged
        #
        #     assert "RANDOM_METHOD_ID".to_snake_case == "RANDOM_METHOD_ID"
        #
        # If the identifier is prefixed by an underscore, the underscore is ignored
        #
        #     assert "_privateField".to_snake_case == "_private_field"
        fun to_snake_case: SELFTYPE
        do
                if self.is_upper then return self

                var new_str = new FlatBuffer.with_capacity(self.length)
                var is_first_char = true

                for i in [0..length[ do
                        var char = chars[i]
                        if is_first_char then 
                                new_str.add(char.to_lower)
                                is_first_char = false
                        else if char.is_upper then
                                new_str.add('_')
                                new_str.add(char.to_lower)
                        else
                                new_str.add(char)
                        end
                end
                
                return new_str.to_s
        end

        # Takes a snake case `self` and converts it to camel case 
        #
        #     assert "random_method_id".to_camel_case == "randomMethodId"
        #
        # If the identifier is prefixed by an underscore, the underscore is ignored
        #
        #     assert "_private_field".to_camel_case == "_privateField"
        #
        # If `self` is upper, it is returned unchanged
        #
        #     assert "RANDOM_ID".to_camel_case == "RANDOM_ID"
        #
        # If there are several consecutive underscores, they are considered as a single one
        #
        #     assert "random__method_id".to_camel_case == "randomMethodId"
        fun to_camel_case: SELFTYPE
        do
                if self.is_upper then return self

                var new_str = new FlatBuffer
                var is_first_char = true
                var follows_us = false

                for i in [0..length[ do
                        var char = chars[i]
                        if is_first_char then
                                new_str.add(char)
                                is_first_char = false
                        else if char == '_' then
                                follows_us = true
                        else if follows_us then
                                new_str.add(char.to_upper)
                                follows_us = false
                        else
                                new_str.add(char)
                        end
                end

                return new_str.to_s
        end

        # Returns a capitalized `self`
        #
        # Letters that follow a letter are lowercased
        # Letters that follow a non-letter are upcased.
        #
        # SEE : `Char::is_letter` for the definition of letter.
        #
        #     assert "jAVASCRIPT".capitalized == "Javascript"
        #     assert "i am root".capitalized == "I Am Root"
        #     assert "ab_c -ab0c ab\nc".capitalized == "Ab_C -Ab0C Ab\nC"
        fun capitalized: SELFTYPE do
                if length == 0 then return self

                var buf = new FlatBuffer.with_capacity(length)

                var curr = chars[0].to_upper
                var prev = curr
                buf[0] = curr

                for i in [1 .. length[ do
                        prev = curr
                        curr = self[i]
                        if prev.is_letter then
                                buf[i] = curr.to_lower
                        else
                                buf[i] = curr.to_upper
                        end
                end

                return buf.to_s
        end
end

private class FlatSubstringsIter
        super Iterator[FlatText]

        var tgt: nullable FlatText

        redef fun item do
                assert is_ok
                return tgt.as(not null)
        end

        redef fun is_ok do return tgt != null

        redef fun next do tgt = null
end

# Immutable strings of characters.
class FlatString
        super FlatText
        super String

        # Index in _items of the start of the string
        private var index_from: Int is noinit

        # Indes in _items of the last item of the string
        private var index_to: Int is noinit

        redef var chars: SequenceRead[Char] = new FlatStringCharView(self)

        redef fun [](index)
        do
                # Check that the index (+ index_from) is not larger than indexTo
                # In other terms, if the index is valid
                assert index >= 0
                assert (index + index_from) <= index_to
                return items[index + index_from]
        end

        ################################################
        #       AbstractString specific methods        #
        ################################################

        redef fun reversed
        do
                var native = new NativeString(self.length + 1)
                var length = self.length
                var items = self.items
                var pos = 0
                var ipos = length-1
                while pos < length do
                        native[pos] = items[ipos]
                        pos += 1
                        ipos -= 1
                end
                return native.to_s_with_length(self.length)
        end

        redef fun substring(from, count)
        do
                assert count >= 0

                if from < 0 then
                        count += from
                        if count < 0 then count = 0
                        from = 0
                end

                var realFrom = index_from + from

                if (realFrom + count) > index_to then return new FlatString.with_infos(items, index_to - realFrom + 1, realFrom, index_to)

                if count == 0 then return empty

                var to = realFrom + count - 1

                return new FlatString.with_infos(items, to - realFrom + 1, realFrom, to)
        end

        redef fun empty do return "".as(FlatString)

        redef fun to_upper
        do
                var outstr = new NativeString(self.length + 1)
                var out_index = 0

                var myitems = self.items
                var index_from = self.index_from
                var max = self.index_to

                while index_from <= max do
                        outstr[out_index] = myitems[index_from].to_upper
                        out_index += 1
                        index_from += 1
                end

                outstr[self.length] = '\0'

                return outstr.to_s_with_length(self.length)
        end

        redef fun to_lower
        do
                var outstr = new NativeString(self.length + 1)
                var out_index = 0

                var myitems = self.items
                var index_from = self.index_from
                var max = self.index_to

                while index_from <= max do
                        outstr[out_index] = myitems[index_from].to_lower
                        out_index += 1
                        index_from += 1
                end

                outstr[self.length] = '\0'

                return outstr.to_s_with_length(self.length)
        end

        redef fun output
        do
                var i = self.index_from
                var imax = self.index_to
                while i <= imax do
                        items[i].output
                        i += 1
                end
        end

        ##################################################
        #              String Specific Methods           #
        ##################################################

        private init with_infos(items: NativeString, len: Int, from: Int, to: Int)
        do
                self.items = items
                length = len
                index_from = from
                index_to = to
        end

        redef fun to_cstring: NativeString
        do
                if real_items != null then
                        return real_items.as(not null)
                else
                        var newItems = new NativeString(length + 1)
                        self.items.copy_to(newItems, length, index_from, 0)
                        newItems[length] = '\0'
                        self.real_items = newItems
                        return newItems
                end
        end

        redef fun ==(other)
        do
                if not other isa FlatString then return super

                if self.object_id == other.object_id then return true

                var my_length = length

                if other.length != my_length then return false

                var my_index = index_from
                var its_index = other.index_from

                var last_iteration = my_index + my_length

                var itsitems = other.items
                var myitems = self.items

                while my_index < last_iteration do
                        if myitems[my_index] != itsitems[its_index] then return false
                        my_index += 1
                        its_index += 1
                end

                return true
        end

        redef fun <(other)
        do
                if not other isa FlatString then return super

                if self.object_id == other.object_id then return false

                var my_curr_char : Char
                var its_curr_char : Char

                var curr_id_self = self.index_from
                var curr_id_other = other.index_from

                var my_items = self.items
                var its_items = other.items

                var my_length = self.length
                var its_length = other.length

                var max_iterations = curr_id_self + my_length

                while curr_id_self < max_iterations do
                        my_curr_char = my_items[curr_id_self]
                        its_curr_char = its_items[curr_id_other]

                        if my_curr_char != its_curr_char then
                                if my_curr_char < its_curr_char then return true
                                return false
                        end

                        curr_id_self += 1
                        curr_id_other += 1
                end

                return my_length < its_length
        end

        redef fun +(s)
        do
                var my_length = self.length
                var its_length = s.length

                var total_length = my_length + its_length

                var target_string = new NativeString(my_length + its_length + 1)

                self.items.copy_to(target_string, my_length, index_from, 0)
                if s isa FlatString then
                        s.items.copy_to(target_string, its_length, s.index_from, my_length)
                else if s isa FlatBuffer then
                        s.items.copy_to(target_string, its_length, 0, my_length)
                else
                        var curr_pos = my_length
                        for i in [0..s.length[ do
                                var c = s.chars[i]
                                target_string[curr_pos] = c
                                curr_pos += 1
                        end
                end

                target_string[total_length] = '\0'

                return target_string.to_s_with_length(total_length)
        end

        redef fun *(i)
        do
                assert i >= 0

                var my_length = self.length

                var final_length = my_length * i

                var my_items = self.items

                var target_string = new NativeString(final_length + 1)

                target_string[final_length] = '\0'

                var current_last = 0

                for iteration in [1 .. i] do
                        my_items.copy_to(target_string, my_length, 0, current_last)
                        current_last += my_length
                end

                return target_string.to_s_with_length(final_length)
        end

        redef fun hash
        do
                if hash_cache == null then
                        # djb2 hash algorithm
                        var h = 5381
                        var i = index_from

                        var myitems = items

                        while i <= index_to do
                                h = h.lshift(5) + h + myitems[i].ascii
                                i += 1
                        end

                        hash_cache = h
                end

                return hash_cache.as(not null)
        end

        redef fun substrings do return new FlatSubstringsIter(self)
end

private class FlatStringReverseIterator
        super IndexedIterator[Char]

        var target: FlatString

        var target_items: NativeString

        var curr_pos: Int

        init with_pos(tgt: FlatString, pos: Int)
        do
                target = tgt
                target_items = tgt.items
                curr_pos = pos + tgt.index_from
        end

        redef fun is_ok do return curr_pos >= target.index_from

        redef fun item do return target_items[curr_pos]

        redef fun next do curr_pos -= 1

        redef fun index do return curr_pos - target.index_from

end

private class FlatStringIterator
        super IndexedIterator[Char]

        var target: FlatString

        var target_items: NativeString

        var curr_pos: Int

        init with_pos(tgt: FlatString, pos: Int)
        do
                target = tgt
                target_items = tgt.items
                curr_pos = pos + target.index_from
        end

        redef fun is_ok do return curr_pos <= target.index_to

        redef fun item do return target_items[curr_pos]

        redef fun next do curr_pos += 1

        redef fun index do return curr_pos - target.index_from

end

private class FlatStringCharView
        super StringCharView

        redef type SELFTYPE: FlatString

        redef fun [](index)
        do
                # Check that the index (+ index_from) is not larger than indexTo
                # In other terms, if the index is valid
                assert index >= 0
                var target = self.target
                assert (index + target.index_from) <= target.index_to
                return target.items[index + target.index_from]
        end

        redef fun iterator_from(start) do return new FlatStringIterator.with_pos(target, start)

        redef fun reverse_iterator_from(start) do return new FlatStringReverseIterator.with_pos(target, start)

end

# A mutable sequence of characters.
abstract class Buffer
        super Text

        redef type SELFTYPE: Buffer

        # Specific implementations MUST set this to `true` in order to invalidate caches
        protected var is_dirty = true

        # Copy-On-Write flag
        #
        # If the `Buffer` was to_s'd, the next in-place altering
        # operation will cause the current `Buffer` to be re-allocated.
        #
        # The flag will then be set at `false`.
        protected var written = false

        # Modifies the char contained at pos `index`
        #
        # DEPRECATED : Use self.chars.[]= instead
        fun []=(index: Int, item: Char) is abstract

        # Adds a char `c` at the end of self
        #
        # DEPRECATED : Use self.chars.add instead
        fun add(c: Char) is abstract

        # Clears the buffer
        #
        #     var b = new FlatBuffer
        #     b.append "hello"
        #     assert not b.is_empty
        #     b.clear
        #     assert b.is_empty
        fun clear is abstract

        # Enlarges the subsequent array containing the chars of self
        fun enlarge(cap: Int) is abstract

        # Adds the content of text `s` at the end of self
        #
        #     var b = new FlatBuffer
        #     b.append "hello"
        #     b.append "world"
        #     assert b == "helloworld"
        fun append(s: Text) is abstract

        # `self` is appended in such a way that `self` is repeated `r` times
        #
        #     var b = new FlatBuffer
        #     b.append "hello"
        #     b.times 3
        #     assert b == "hellohellohello"
        fun times(r: Int) is abstract

        # Reverses itself in-place
        #
        #     var b = new FlatBuffer
        #     b.append("hello")
        #     b.reverse
        #     assert b == "olleh"
        fun reverse is abstract

        # Changes each lower-case char in `self` by its upper-case variant
        #
        #     var b = new FlatBuffer
        #     b.append("Hello World!")
        #     b.upper
        #     assert b == "HELLO WORLD!"
        fun upper is abstract

        # Changes each upper-case char in `self` by its lower-case variant
        #
        #     var b = new FlatBuffer
        #     b.append("Hello World!")
        #     b.lower
        #     assert b == "hello world!"
        fun lower is abstract

        # Capitalizes each word in `self`
        #
        # Letters that follow a letter are lowercased
        # Letters that follow a non-letter are upcased.
        #
        # SEE: `Char::is_letter` for the definition of a letter.
        #
        #     var b = new FlatBuffer.from("jAVAsCriPt")
        #     b.capitalize
        #     assert b == "Javascript"
        #     b = new FlatBuffer.from("i am root")
        #     b.capitalize
        #     assert b == "I Am Root"
        #     b = new FlatBuffer.from("ab_c -ab0c ab\nc")
        #     b.capitalize
        #     assert b == "Ab_C -Ab0C Ab\nC"
        fun capitalize do
                if length == 0 then return
                var c = self[0].to_upper
                self[0] = c
                var prev = c
                for i in [1 .. length[ do
                        prev = c
                        c = self[i]
                        if prev.is_letter then
                                self[i] = c.to_lower
                        else
                                self[i] = c.to_upper
                        end
                end
        end

        redef fun hash
        do
                if is_dirty then hash_cache = null
                return super
        end

        # In Buffers, the internal sequence of character is mutable
        # Thus, `chars` can be used to modify the buffer.
        redef fun chars: Sequence[Char] is abstract
end

# Mutable strings of characters.
class FlatBuffer
        super FlatText
        super Buffer

        redef type SELFTYPE: FlatBuffer

        redef var chars: Sequence[Char] = new FlatBufferCharView(self)

        private var capacity: Int = 0

        redef fun substrings do return new FlatSubstringsIter(self)

        # Re-copies the `NativeString` into a new one and sets it as the new `Buffer`
        #
        # This happens when an operation modifies the current `Buffer` and
        # the Copy-On-Write flag `written` is set at true.
        private fun reset do
                var nns = new NativeString(capacity)
                items.copy_to(nns, length, 0, 0)
                items = nns
                written = false
        end

        redef fun [](index)
        do
                assert index >= 0
                assert index  < length
                return items[index]
        end

        redef fun []=(index, item)
        do
                is_dirty = true
                if index == length then
                        add(item)
                        return
                end
                if written then reset
                assert index >= 0 and index < length
                items[index] = item
        end

        redef fun add(c)
        do
                is_dirty = true
                if capacity <= length then enlarge(length + 5)
                items[length] = c
                length += 1
        end

        redef fun clear do
                is_dirty = true
                if written then reset
                length = 0
        end

        redef fun empty do return new FlatBuffer

        redef fun enlarge(cap)
        do
                var c = capacity
                if cap <= c then return
                while c <= cap do c = c * 2 + 2
                # The COW flag can be set at false here, since
                # it does a copy of the current `Buffer`
                written = false
                var a = new NativeString(c+1)
                if length > 0 then items.copy_to(a, length, 0, 0)
                items = a
                capacity = c
        end

        redef fun to_s: String
        do
                written = true
                if length == 0 then items = new NativeString(1)
                return new FlatString.with_infos(items, length, 0, length - 1)
        end

        redef fun to_cstring
        do
                if is_dirty then
                        var new_native = new NativeString(length + 1)
                        new_native[length] = '\0'
                        if length > 0 then items.copy_to(new_native, length, 0, 0)
                        real_items = new_native
                        is_dirty = false
                end
                return real_items.as(not null)
        end

        # Create a new empty string.
        init do end

        # Create a new string copied from `s`.
        init from(s: Text)
        do
                capacity = s.length + 1
                length = s.length
                items = new NativeString(capacity)
                if s isa FlatString then
                        s.items.copy_to(items, length, s.index_from, 0)
                else if s isa FlatBuffer then
                        s.items.copy_to(items, length, 0, 0)
                else
                        var curr_pos = 0
                        for i in [0..s.length[ do
                                var c = s.chars[i]
                                items[curr_pos] = c
                                curr_pos += 1
                        end
                end
        end

        # Create a new empty string with a given capacity.
        init with_capacity(cap: Int)
        do
                assert cap >= 0
                # _items = new NativeString.calloc(cap)
                items = new NativeString(cap+1)
                capacity = cap
                length = 0
        end

        redef fun append(s)
        do
                if s.is_empty then return
                is_dirty = true
                var sl = s.length
                if capacity < length + sl then enlarge(length + sl)
                if s isa FlatString then
                        s.items.copy_to(items, sl, s.index_from, length)
                else if s isa FlatBuffer then
                        s.items.copy_to(items, sl, 0, length)
                else
                        var curr_pos = self.length
                        for i in [0..s.length[ do
                                var c = s.chars[i]
                                items[curr_pos] = c
                                curr_pos += 1
                        end
                end
                length += sl
        end

        # Copies the content of self in `dest`
        fun copy(start: Int, len: Int, dest: Buffer, new_start: Int)
        do
                var self_chars = self.chars
                var dest_chars = dest.chars
                for i in [0..len-1] do
                        dest_chars[new_start+i] = self_chars[start+i]
                end
        end

        redef fun substring(from, count)
        do
                assert count >= 0
                count += from
                if from < 0 then from = 0
                if count > length then count = length
                if from < count then
                        var r = new FlatBuffer.with_capacity(count - from)
                        while from < count do
                                r.chars.push(items[from])
                                from += 1
                        end
                        return r
                else
                        return new FlatBuffer
                end
        end

        redef fun reverse
        do
                written = false
                var ns = new NativeString(capacity)
                var si = length - 1
                var ni = 0
                var it = items
                while si >= 0 do
                        ns[ni] = it[si]
                        ni += 1
                        si -= 1
                end
                items = ns
        end

        redef fun times(repeats)
        do
                var x = new FlatString.with_infos(items, length, 0, length - 1)
                for i in [1..repeats[ do
                        append(x)
                end
        end

        redef fun upper
        do
                if written then reset
                var it = items
                var id = length - 1
                while id >= 0 do
                        it[id] = it[id].to_upper
                        id -= 1
                end
        end

        redef fun lower
        do
                if written then reset
                var it = items
                var id = length - 1
                while id >= 0 do
                        it[id] = it[id].to_lower
                        id -= 1
                end
        end
end

private class FlatBufferReverseIterator
        super IndexedIterator[Char]

        var target: FlatBuffer

        var target_items: NativeString

        var curr_pos: Int

        init with_pos(tgt: FlatBuffer, pos: Int)
        do
                target = tgt
                if tgt.length > 0 then target_items = tgt.items
                curr_pos = pos
        end

        redef fun index do return curr_pos

        redef fun is_ok do return curr_pos >= 0

        redef fun item do return target_items[curr_pos]

        redef fun next do curr_pos -= 1

end

private class FlatBufferCharView
        super BufferCharView

        redef type SELFTYPE: FlatBuffer

        redef fun [](index) do return target.items[index]

        redef fun []=(index, item)
        do
                assert index >= 0 and index <= length
                if index == length then
                        add(item)
                        return
                end
                target.items[index] = item
        end

        redef fun push(c)
        do
                target.add(c)
        end

        redef fun add(c)
        do
                target.add(c)
        end

        fun enlarge(cap: Int)
        do
                target.enlarge(cap)
        end

        redef fun append(s)
        do
                var s_length = s.length
                if target.capacity < s.length then enlarge(s_length + target.length)
        end

        redef fun iterator_from(pos) do return new FlatBufferIterator.with_pos(target, pos)

        redef fun reverse_iterator_from(pos) do return new FlatBufferReverseIterator.with_pos(target, pos)

end

private class FlatBufferIterator
        super IndexedIterator[Char]

        var target: FlatBuffer

        var target_items: NativeString

        var curr_pos: Int

        init with_pos(tgt: FlatBuffer, pos: Int)
        do
                target = tgt
                if tgt.length > 0 then target_items = tgt.items
                curr_pos = pos
        end

        redef fun index do return curr_pos

        redef fun is_ok do return curr_pos < target.length

        redef fun item do return target_items[curr_pos]

        redef fun next do curr_pos += 1

end

###############################################################################
# Refinement                                                                  #
###############################################################################

redef class Object
        # User readable representation of `self`.
        fun to_s: String do return inspect

        # The class name of the object in NativeString format.
        private fun native_class_name: NativeString is intern

        # The class name of the object.
        #
        #     assert 5.class_name == "Int"
        fun class_name: String do return native_class_name.to_s

        # Developer readable representation of `self`.
        # Usually, it uses the form "<CLASSNAME:#OBJECTID bla bla bla>"
        fun inspect: String
        do
                return "<{inspect_head}>"
        end

        # Return "CLASSNAME:#OBJECTID".
        # This function is mainly used with the redefinition of the inspect method
        protected fun inspect_head: String
        do
                return "{class_name}:#{object_id.to_hex}"
        end
end

redef class Bool
        #     assert true.to_s         == "true"
        #     assert false.to_s        == "false"
        redef fun to_s
        do
                if self then
                        return once "true"
                else
                        return once "false"
                end
        end
end

redef class Int

        # Wrapper of strerror C function
        private fun strerror_ext: NativeString is extern `{
                return strerror(recv);
        `}

        # Returns a string describing error number
        fun strerror: String do return strerror_ext.to_s

        # Fill `s` with the digits in base `base` of `self` (and with the '-' sign if 'signed' and negative).
        # assume < to_c max const of char
        private fun fill_buffer(s: Buffer, base: Int, signed: Bool)
        do
                var n: Int
                # Sign
                if self < 0 then
                        n = - self
                        s.chars[0] = '-'
                else if self == 0 then
                        s.chars[0] = '0'
                        return
                else
                        n = self
                end
                # Fill digits
                var pos = digit_count(base) - 1
                while pos >= 0 and n > 0 do
                        s.chars[pos] = (n % base).to_c
                        n = n / base # /
                        pos -= 1
                end
        end

        # C function to convert an nit Int to a NativeString (char*)
        private fun native_int_to_s: NativeString is extern "native_int_to_s"

        # return displayable int in base 10 and signed
        #
        #     assert 1.to_s            == "1"
        #     assert (-123).to_s       == "-123"
        redef fun to_s do
                return native_int_to_s.to_s
        end

        # return displayable int in hexadecimal
        #
        #     assert 1.to_hex  == "1"
        #     assert (-255).to_hex  == "-ff"
        fun to_hex: String do return to_base(16,false)

        # return displayable int in base base and signed
        fun to_base(base: Int, signed: Bool): String
        do
                var l = digit_count(base)
                var s = new FlatBuffer.from(" " * l)
                fill_buffer(s, base, signed)
                return s.to_s
        end
end

redef class Float
        # Pretty representation of `self`, with decimals as needed from 1 to a maximum of 3
        #
        #     assert 12.34.to_s       == "12.34"
        #     assert (-0120.030).to_s == "-120.03"
        #
        # see `to_precision` for a custom precision.
        redef fun to_s do
                var str = to_precision( 3 )
                if is_inf != 0 or is_nan then return str
                var len = str.length
                for i in [0..len-1] do
                        var j = len-1-i
                        var c = str.chars[j]
                        if c == '0' then
                                continue
                        else if c == '.' then
                                return str.substring( 0, j+2 )
                        else
                                return str.substring( 0, j+1 )
                        end
                end
                return str
        end

        # `String` representation of `self` with the given number of `decimals`
        #
        #     assert 12.345.to_precision(0)    == "12"
        #     assert 12.345.to_precision(3)    == "12.345"
        #     assert (-12.345).to_precision(3) == "-12.345"
        #     assert (-0.123).to_precision(3)  == "-0.123"
        #     assert 0.999.to_precision(2)     == "1.00"
        #     assert 0.999.to_precision(4)     == "0.9990"
        fun to_precision(decimals: Int): String
        do
                if is_nan then return "nan"

                var isinf = self.is_inf
                if isinf == 1 then
                        return "inf"
                else if isinf == -1 then
                        return  "-inf"
                end

                if decimals == 0 then return self.to_i.to_s
                var f = self
                for i in [0..decimals[ do f = f * 10.0
                if self > 0.0 then
                        f = f + 0.5
                else
                        f = f - 0.5
                end
                var i = f.to_i
                if i == 0 then return "0." + "0"*decimals

                # Prepare both parts of the float, before and after the "."
                var s = i.abs.to_s
                var sl = s.length
                var p1
                var p2
                if sl > decimals then
                        # Has something before the "."
                        p1 = s.substring(0, sl-decimals)
                        p2 = s.substring(sl-decimals, decimals)
                else
                        p1 = "0"
                        p2 = "0"*(decimals-sl) + s
                end

                if i < 0 then p1 = "-" + p1

                return p1 + "." + p2
        end

        # `self` representation with `nb` digits after the '.'.
        #
        #     assert 12.345.to_precision_native(1) == "12.3"
        #     assert 12.345.to_precision_native(2) == "12.35"
        #     assert 12.345.to_precision_native(3) == "12.345"
        #     assert 12.345.to_precision_native(4) == "12.3450"
        fun to_precision_native(nb: Int): String import NativeString.to_s `{
                int size;
                char *str;

                size = snprintf(NULL, 0, "%.*f", (int)nb, recv);
                str = malloc(size + 1);
                sprintf(str, "%.*f", (int)nb, recv );

                return NativeString_to_s( str );
        `}
end

redef class Char
        #     assert 'x'.to_s    == "x"
        redef fun to_s
        do
                var s = new FlatBuffer.with_capacity(1)
                s.chars[0] = self
                return s.to_s
        end

        # Returns true if the char is a numerical digit
        #
        #     assert '0'.is_numeric
        #     assert '9'.is_numeric
        #     assert not 'a'.is_numeric
        #     assert not '?'.is_numeric
        fun is_numeric: Bool
        do
                return self >= '0' and self <= '9'
        end

        # Returns true if the char is an alpha digit
        #
        #     assert 'a'.is_alpha
        #     assert 'Z'.is_alpha
        #     assert not '0'.is_alpha
        #     assert not '?'.is_alpha
        fun is_alpha: Bool
        do
                return (self >= 'a' and self <= 'z') or (self >= 'A' and self <= 'Z')
        end

        # Returns true if the char is an alpha or a numeric digit
        #
        #     assert 'a'.is_alphanumeric
        #     assert 'Z'.is_alphanumeric
        #     assert '0'.is_alphanumeric
        #     assert '9'.is_alphanumeric
        #     assert not '?'.is_alphanumeric
        fun is_alphanumeric: Bool
        do
                return self.is_numeric or self.is_alpha
        end
end

redef class Collection[E]
        # Concatenate elements.
        redef fun to_s
        do
                var s = new FlatBuffer
                for e in self do if e != null then s.append(e.to_s)
                return s.to_s
        end

        # Concatenate and separate each elements with `sep`.
        #
        #     assert [1, 2, 3].join(":")         == "1:2:3"
        #     assert [1..3].join(":")            == "1:2:3"
        fun join(sep: Text): String
        do
                if is_empty then return ""

                var s = new FlatBuffer # Result

                # Concat first item
                var i = iterator
                var e = i.item
                if e != null then s.append(e.to_s)

                # Concat other items
                i.next
                while i.is_ok do
                        s.append(sep)
                        e = i.item
                        if e != null then s.append(e.to_s)
                        i.next
                end
                return s.to_s
        end
end

redef class Array[E]

        # Fast implementation
        redef fun to_s
        do
                var l = length
                if l == 0 then return ""
                if l == 1 then if self[0] == null then return "" else return self[0].to_s
                var its = _items
                var na = new NativeArray[String](l)
                var i = 0
                var sl = 0
                var mypos = 0
                while i < l do
                        var itsi = its[i]
                        if itsi == null then
                                i += 1
                                continue
                        end
                        var tmp = itsi.to_s
                        sl += tmp.length
                        na[mypos] = tmp
                        i += 1
                        mypos += 1
                end
                var ns = new NativeString(sl + 1)
                ns[sl] = '\0'
                i = 0
                var off = 0
                while i < mypos do
                        var tmp = na[i]
                        var tpl = tmp.length
                        if tmp isa FlatString then
                                tmp.items.copy_to(ns, tpl, tmp.index_from, off)
                                off += tpl
                        else
                                for j in tmp.substrings do
                                        var s = j.as(FlatString)
                                        var slen = s.length
                                        s.items.copy_to(ns, slen, s.index_from, off)
                                        off += slen
                                end
                        end
                        i += 1
                end
                return ns.to_s_with_length(sl)
        end
end

redef class Map[K,V]
        # Concatenate couple of 'key value'.
        # key and value are separated by `couple_sep`.
        # each couple is separated each couple with `sep`.
        #
        #     var m = new ArrayMap[Int, String]
        #     m[1] = "one"
        #     m[10] = "ten"
        #     assert m.join("; ", "=") == "1=one; 10=ten"
        fun join(sep: String, couple_sep: String): String
        do
                if is_empty then return ""

                var s = new FlatBuffer # Result

                # Concat first item
                var i = iterator
                var k = i.key
                var e = i.item
                s.append("{k}{couple_sep}{e or else "<null>"}")

                # Concat other items
                i.next
                while i.is_ok do
                        s.append(sep)
                        k = i.key
                        e = i.item
                        s.append("{k}{couple_sep}{e or else "<null>"}")
                        i.next
                end
                return s.to_s
        end
end

###############################################################################
# Native classes                                                              #
###############################################################################

# Native strings are simple C char *
extern class NativeString `{ char* `}
        # Creates a new NativeString with a capacity of `length`
        new(length: Int) is intern

        # Get char at `index`.
        fun [](index: Int): Char is intern

        # Set char `item` at index.
        fun []=(index: Int, item: Char) is intern

        # Copy `self` to `dest`.
        fun copy_to(dest: NativeString, length: Int, from: Int, to: Int) is intern

        # Position of the first nul character.
        fun cstring_length: Int
        do
                var l = 0
                while self[l] != '\0' do l += 1
                return l
        end

        # Parse `self` as an Int.
        fun atoi: Int is intern

        # Parse `self` as a Float.
        fun atof: Float is extern "atof"

        redef fun to_s
        do
                return to_s_with_length(cstring_length)
        end

        # Returns `self` as a String of `length`.
        fun to_s_with_length(length: Int): FlatString
        do
                assert length >= 0
                var str = new FlatString.with_infos(self, length, 0, length - 1)
                return str
        end

        # Returns `self` as a new String.
        fun to_s_with_copy: FlatString
        do
                var length = cstring_length
                var new_self = new NativeString(length + 1)
                copy_to(new_self, length, 0, 0)
                var str = new FlatString.with_infos(new_self, length, 0, length - 1)
                new_self[length] = '\0'
                str.real_items = new_self
                return str
        end
end

redef class Sys
        private var args_cache: nullable Sequence[String]

        # The arguments of the program as given by the OS
        fun program_args: Sequence[String]
        do
                if _args_cache == null then init_args
                return _args_cache.as(not null)
        end

        # The name of the program as given by the OS
        fun program_name: String
        do
                return native_argv(0).to_s
        end

        # Initialize `program_args` with the contents of `native_argc` and `native_argv`.
        private fun init_args
        do
                var argc = native_argc
                var args = new Array[String].with_capacity(0)
                var i = 1
                while i < argc do
                        args[i-1] = native_argv(i).to_s
                        i += 1
                end
                _args_cache = args
        end

        # First argument of the main C function.
        private fun native_argc: Int is intern

        # Second argument of the main C function.
        private fun native_argv(i: Int): NativeString is intern
end

# Comparator that efficienlty use `to_s` to compare things
#
# The comparaison call `to_s` on object and use the result to order things.
#
#     var a = [1, 2, 3, 10, 20]
#     (new CachedAlphaComparator).sort(a)
#     assert a == [1, 10, 2, 20, 3]
#
# Internally the result of `to_s` is cached in a HashMap to counter
# uneficient implementation of `to_s`.
#
# Note: it caching is not usefull, see `alpha_comparator`
class CachedAlphaComparator
        super Comparator
        redef type COMPARED: Object

        private var cache = new HashMap[Object, String]

        private fun do_to_s(a: Object): String do
                if cache.has_key(a) then return cache[a]
                var res = a.to_s
                cache[a] = res
                return res
        end

        redef fun compare(a, b) do
                return do_to_s(a) <=> do_to_s(b)
        end
end

# see `alpha_comparator`
private class AlphaComparator
        super Comparator
        redef fun compare(a, b) do return a.to_s <=> b.to_s
end

# Stateless comparator that naively use `to_s` to compare things.
#
# Note: the result of `to_s` is not cached, thus can be invoked a lot
# on a single instace. See `CachedAlphaComparator` as an alternative.
#
#     var a = [1, 2, 3, 10, 20]
#     alpha_comparator.sort(a)
#     assert a == [1, 10, 2, 20, 3]
fun alpha_comparator: Comparator do return once new AlphaComparator

# The arguments of the program as given by the OS
fun args: Sequence[String]
do
        return sys.program_args
end