[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
intrude import collection # FIXME should be collection::array

`{
#include <stdio.h>
`}

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

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

        redef type OTHER: Text

        # Type of the view on self (.chars)
        type SELFVIEW: StringCharView

        # 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
        fun chars: SELFVIEW is abstract

        # Number of characters contained in self.
        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

        # Concatenates `o` to `self`
        fun +(o: Text): SELFTYPE is abstract

        # Auto-concatenates self `i` times
        fun *(i: Int): SELFTYPE 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
        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
                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

        # The index of the last occurrence of an element starting from pos (in reverse order).
        # Example :
        #               assert "/etc/bin/test/test.nit".last_index_of_from('/', length-1) == 13
        #               assert "/etc/bin/test/test.nit".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

        # Is 'c' contained in self ?
        #
        # DEPRECATED : Use self.chars.has instead
        fun has(c: Char): Bool
        do
                return self.chars.has(c)
        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
                assert from < length
                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
        fun has_substring(str: String, pos: Int): Bool
        do
                var myiter = self.chars.iterator_from(pos)
                var itsiter = str.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.
        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 c in self.chars
                do
                        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 self.chars
                do
                        if not i.is_numeric
                        then
                                if (i == '.' or i == ',') and not has_point_or_comma
                                then
                                        has_point_or_comma = true
                                else
                                        return false
                                end
                        end
                end
                return true
        end

        # 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

        # Removes the whitespaces at the beginning of self
        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
        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 == length 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

        # 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 c in self.chars do
                        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 c in self.chars do
                        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 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("\{\}")

        # Return a string where Nit escape sequences are transformed.
        #
        # Example:
        #     var s = "\\n"
        #     assert s.length        ==  2
        #     var u = s.unescape_nit
        #     assert u.length        ==  1
        #     assert u[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 c in self do
                        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

        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

        redef fun <(o)
        do
                return self.chars < o.chars
        end

end

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

        private var items: NativeString

        redef var length: Int

        init do end

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

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

        type SELFTYPE: Text

        redef type OTHER: StringCharView

        private var target: SELFTYPE

        private init(tgt: SELFTYPE)
        do
                target = tgt
        end

        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)

        # Gets a new Iterator starting at position `pos`
        #
        # Ex :
        #       var iter = "abcd".iterator_from(2)
        #       while iter.is_ok do
        #               printn iter.item
        #               iter.next
        #       end
        #
        # Outputs : cd
        fun iterator_from(pos: Int): IndexedIterator[Char] is abstract

        # Gets an iterator starting at the end and going backwards
        #
        # Ex :
        #       var reviter = "now step live...".reverse_iterator
        #       while reviter.is_ok do
        #               printn reviter.item
        #               reviter.next
        #       end
        #
        # Outputs : ...evil pets won
        fun reverse_iterator: IndexedIterator[Char] do return self.reverse_iterator_from(self.length - 1)

        # Gets an iterator on the chars of self starting from `pos`
        #
        # Ex :
        #       var iter = "abcd".reverse_iterator_from(1)
        #       while iter.is_ok do
        #               printn iter.item
        #               iter.next
        #       end
        #
        # Outputs : ba
        fun reverse_iterator_from(pos: Int): IndexedIterator[Char] is abstract

        redef fun has(c: Char): Bool
        do
                for i in self do
                        if i == c then return true
                end
                return false
        end

        redef fun ==(other)
        do
                if other == null then return false
                if not other isa StringCharView then return false
                var other_chars = other.iterator
                for i in self do
                        if i != other_chars.item then return false
                        other_chars.next
                end
                return true
        end

        redef fun <(other)
        do
                var self_chars = self.iterator
                var other_chars = other.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
end

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

        redef type SELFTYPE: Buffer

end

abstract class String
        super Text

        redef type SELFTYPE: String

        redef fun to_s do return self

end

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

        redef type SELFTYPE: FlatString
        redef type SELFVIEW: FlatStringCharView

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

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

        redef var chars: SELFVIEW = new FlatStringCharView(self)

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

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

        # Return a null terminated char *
        fun to_cstring: NativeString
        do
                if index_from > 0 or index_to != items.cstring_length - 1 then
                        var newItems = calloc_string(length + 1)
                        self.items.copy_to(newItems, length, index_from, 0)
                        newItems[length] = '\0'
                        return newItems
                end
                return items
        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

        # The comparison between two strings is done on a lexicographical basis
        #
        #     assert ("aa" < "b")      ==  true
        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

        # The concatenation of `self` with `s`
        #
        #     assert "hello " + "world!"         == "hello world!"
        redef fun +(s)
        do
                var my_length = self.length
                var its_length = s.length

                var total_length = my_length + its_length

                var target_string = calloc_string(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 s.chars do
                                target_string[curr_pos] = i
                                curr_pos += 1
                        end
                end

                target_string[total_length] = '\0'

                return target_string.to_s_with_length(total_length)
        end

        #     assert "abc"*3           == "abcabcabc"
        #     assert "abc"*1           == "abc"
        #     assert "abc"*0           == ""
        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 = calloc_string((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
                # djb2 hash algorythm
                var h = 5381
                var i = length - 1

                var myitems = items
                var strStart = index_from

                i += strStart

                while i >= strStart do
                        h = (h * 32) + h + self.items[i].ascii
                        i -= 1
                end

                return h
        end
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 >= 0

        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
                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

abstract class Buffer
        super Text

        redef type SELFVIEW: BufferCharView
        redef type SELFTYPE: Buffer

        # 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
        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
        fun append(s: Text) is abstract

end

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

        redef type SELFVIEW: FlatBufferCharView
        redef type SELFTYPE: FlatBuffer

        redef var chars: SELFVIEW = new FlatBufferCharView(self)

        var capacity: Int

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

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

        redef fun clear do length = 0

        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
                var a = calloc_string(c+1)
                items.copy_to(a, length, 0, 0)
                items = a
                capacity = c
                items.copy_to(a, length, 0, 0)
        end

        redef fun to_s: String
        do
                var l = length
                var a = calloc_string(l+1)
                items.copy_to(a, l, 0, 0)

                # Ensure the afterlast byte is '\0' to nul-terminated char *
                a[length] = '\0'

                return a.to_s_with_length(length)
        end

        # Create a new empty string.
        init
        do
                with_capacity(5)
        end

        init from(s: String)
        do
                capacity = s.length + 1
                length = s.length
                items = calloc_string(capacity)
                s.items.copy_to(items, length, s.index_from, 0)
        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 = calloc_string(cap+1)
                capacity = cap
                length = 0
        end

        redef fun append(s)
        do
                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 s.chars do
                                items[curr_pos] = i
                                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 +(other)
        do
                var new_buf = new FlatBuffer.with_capacity(self.length + other.length)
                new_buf.append(self)
                new_buf.append(other)
                return new_buf
        end

        redef fun *(repeats)
        do
                var new_buf = new FlatBuffer.with_capacity(self.length * repeats)
                for i in [0..repeats[ do
                        new_buf.append(self)
                end
                return new_buf
        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
                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
        super StringCapable

        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 my_items = target.items
                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
                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

        protected fun args: Sequence[String]
        do
                return sys.args
        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
        # 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
        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(len: Int): 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
                var len = digit_count(10)
                return native_int_to_s(len).to_s_with_length(len)
        end

        # return displayable int in hexadecimal (unsigned (not now))
        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 print self, print needoed decimals up to a max of 3.
        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

        # `self` representation with `nb` digits after the '.'.
        fun to_precision(nb: 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 nb == 0 then return self.to_i.to_s
                var f = self
                for i in [0..nb[ 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"
                var s = i.to_s
                var sl = s.length
                if sl > nb then
                        var p1 = s.substring(0, s.length-nb)
                        var p2 = s.substring(s.length-nb, nb)
                        return p1 + "." + p2
                else
                        return "0." + ("0"*(nb-sl)) + s
                end
        end

        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
        fun is_numeric: Bool
        do
                if self >= '0' and self <= '9'
                then
                        return true
                end
                return false
        end

        # Returns true if the char is an alpha digit
        fun is_alpha: Bool
        do
                if (self >= 'a' and self <= 'z') or (self >= 'A' and self <= 'Z') then return true
                return false
        end

        # Returns true if the char is an alpha or a numeric digit
        fun is_alphanumeric: Bool
        do
                if self.is_numeric or self.is_alpha then return true
                return false
        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: String): 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 s = new FlatBuffer
                var i = 0
                var l = length
                while i < l do
                        var e = self[i]
                        if e != null then s.append(e.to_s)
                        i += 1
                end
                return s.to_s
        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 *
class NativeString
        super StringCapable

        fun [](index: Int): Char is intern
        fun []=(index: Int, item: Char) is intern
        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
        fun atoi: Int is intern
        fun atof: Float is extern "atof"

        redef fun to_s
        do
                return to_s_with_length(cstring_length)
        end

        fun to_s_with_length(length: Int): FlatString
        do
                assert length >= 0
                return new FlatString.with_infos(self, length, 0, length - 1)
        end

        fun to_s_with_copy: FlatString
        do
                var length = cstring_length
                var new_self = calloc_string(length + 1)
                copy_to(new_self, length, 0, 0)
                return new FlatString.with_infos(new_self, length, 0, length - 1)
        end

end

# StringCapable objects can create native strings
interface StringCapable
        protected fun calloc_string(size: Int): NativeString is intern
end

redef class Sys
        var _args_cache: nullable Sequence[String]

        redef fun 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 `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