string: Escape all HTML’s metacharacters.
[nit.git] / lib / standard / string.nit
index ff18a7d..604386f 100644 (file)
 module string
 
 import math
-intrude import collection # FIXME should be collection::array
+import collection
+intrude import collection::array
 
 `{
 #include <stdio.h>
+#include <string.h>
 `}
 
 ###############################################################################
@@ -28,22 +30,21 @@ intrude import collection # FIXME should be collection::array
 # 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
 
-       var hash_cache: nullable Int = null
-
        # Gets a view on the chars of the Text object
-       fun chars: SELFVIEW is abstract
+       #
+       #     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.
@@ -58,19 +59,20 @@ abstract class Text
        # 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
+       # 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
+       #
+       #     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
+       #
+       # 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
        #
@@ -109,6 +111,7 @@ abstract class Text
                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
@@ -127,9 +130,10 @@ abstract class Text
        fun to_cstring: NativeString do return flatten.to_cstring
 
        # 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
+       #
+       #     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
        #
@@ -152,13 +156,6 @@ abstract class Text
                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
        #
@@ -174,22 +171,36 @@ abstract class Text
        # 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 >= self.length then return empty
                if from < 0 then from = 0
                return substring(from, length - from)
        end
 
-       # Returns a reversed version of self
-       fun reversed: SELFTYPE is abstract
-
        # 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.iterator
+               var itsiter = str.chars.iterator
                while myiter.is_ok and itsiter.is_ok do
                        if myiter.item != itsiter.item then return false
                        myiter.next
@@ -234,6 +245,8 @@ abstract class Text
        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
@@ -244,8 +257,8 @@ abstract class Text
                var i = 0
                var neg = false
 
-               for c in self.chars
-               do
+               for j in [0..length[ do
+                       var c = chars[j]
                        var v = c.to_i
                        if v > base then
                                if neg then
@@ -275,12 +288,10 @@ abstract class Text
        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
+               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
@@ -290,17 +301,56 @@ abstract class Text
                return true
        end
 
-       # A upper case version of `self`
+       # Returns `true` if the string contains only Hex chars
        #
-       #     assert "Hello World!".to_upper     == "HELLO WORLD!"
-       fun to_upper: SELFTYPE is abstract
+       #     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
 
-       # A lower case version of `self`
+       # Are all letters in `self` upper-case ?
        #
-       #     assert "Hello World!".to_lower     == "hello world!"
-       fun to_lower : SELFTYPE is abstract
+       #     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
@@ -313,6 +363,10 @@ abstract class Text
        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
@@ -320,7 +374,7 @@ abstract class Text
                        if iter.item.ascii > 32 then break
                        iter.next
                end
-               if iter.index == length then return self.empty
+               if iter.index < 0 then return self.empty
                return self.substring(0, iter.index + 1)
        end
 
@@ -331,12 +385,53 @@ abstract class Text
        #     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)
+       #
+       #     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 c in self.chars do
+               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
@@ -369,7 +464,8 @@ abstract class Text
        fun escape_to_c: String
        do
                var b = new FlatBuffer
-               for c in self.chars do
+               for i in [0..length[ do
+                       var c = chars[i]
                        if c == '\n' then
                                b.append("\\n")
                        else if c == '\0' then
@@ -396,7 +492,7 @@ abstract class Text
        fun escape_more_to_c(chars: String): String
        do
                var b = new FlatBuffer
-               for c in escape_to_c do
+               for c in escape_to_c.chars do
                        if chars.chars.has(c) then
                                b.add('\\')
                        end
@@ -405,24 +501,68 @@ abstract class Text
                return b.to_s
        end
 
-       # Escape to c plus braces
+       # 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.
        #
-       # 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)
+       #     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 c in self do
+               for i in [0..length[ do
+                       var c = chars[i]
                        if not was_slash then
                                if c == '\\' then
                                        was_slash = true
@@ -447,6 +587,117 @@ abstract class Text
                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
@@ -456,24 +707,51 @@ abstract class Text
                return self.chars == o.chars
        end
 
-       redef fun <(o)
+       # Lexicographical comparaison
+       #
+       #     assert "abc" < "xy"
+       #     assert "ABC" < "abc"
+       redef fun <(other)
        do
-               return self.chars < o.chars
+               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
-                       var i = length - 1
 
-                       for char in self.chars do
-                               h = (h * 32) + h + char.ascii
-                               i -= 1
+                       for i in [0..length[ do
+                               var char = chars[i]
+                               h = h.lshift(5) + h + char.ascii
                        end
 
                        hash_cache = h
@@ -487,14 +765,16 @@ end
 abstract class FlatText
        super Text
 
-       private var items: NativeString
+       # 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
-
-       init do end
+       redef var length: Int = 0
 
        redef fun output
        do
@@ -510,20 +790,12 @@ end
 
 # Abstract class for the SequenceRead compatible
 # views on String and Buffer objects
-abstract class StringCharView
+private 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
+       var target: SELFTYPE
 
        redef fun is_empty do return target.is_empty
 
@@ -531,99 +803,189 @@ abstract class StringCharView
 
        redef fun iterator: IndexedIterator[Char] do return self.iterator_from(0)
 
-       # Gets a new Iterator starting at position `pos`
+       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`
        #
-       # Ex :
-       #       var iter = "abcd".iterator_from(2)
-       #       while iter.is_ok do
-       #               printn iter.item
-       #               iter.next
-       #       end
+       #     assert "hello" + "world"  == "helloworld"
+       #     assert "" + "hello" + ""  == "hello"
+       fun +(o: Text): SELFTYPE is abstract
+
+       # Concatenates self `i` times
        #
-       # Outputs : cd
-       fun iterator_from(pos: Int): IndexedIterator[Char] is abstract
+       #     assert "abc" * 4 == "abcabcabcabc"
+       #     assert "abc" * 1 == "abc"
+       #     assert "abc" * 0 == ""
+       fun *(i: Int): SELFTYPE is abstract
 
-       # Gets an iterator starting at the end and going backwards
+       # Insert `s` at `pos`.
        #
-       # Ex :
-       #       var reviter = "now step live...".reverse_iterator
-       #       while reviter.is_ok do
-       #               printn reviter.item
-       #               reviter.next
-       #       end
+       #     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
        #
-       # Outputs : ...evil pets won
-       fun reverse_iterator: IndexedIterator[Char] do return self.reverse_iterator_from(self.length - 1)
+       #     assert "hello".reversed  == "olleh"
+       #     assert "bob".reversed    == "bob"
+       #     assert "".reversed       == ""
+       fun reversed: SELFTYPE is abstract
 
-       # Gets an iterator on the chars of self starting from `pos`
+       # A upper case version of `self`
        #
-       # Ex :
-       #       var iter = "abcd".reverse_iterator_from(1)
-       #       while iter.is_ok do
-       #               printn iter.item
-       #               iter.next
-       #       end
+       #     assert "Hello World!".to_upper     == "HELLO WORLD!"
+       fun to_upper: SELFTYPE is abstract
+
+       # A lower case version of `self`
        #
-       # Outputs : ba
-       fun reverse_iterator_from(pos: Int): IndexedIterator[Char] is abstract
+       #     assert "Hello World!".to_lower     == "hello world!"
+       fun to_lower : SELFTYPE is abstract
 
-       redef fun has(c: Char): Bool
-       do
-               for i in self do
-                       if i == c then return true
+       # 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 false
+               
+               return new_str.to_s
        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
+       # 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 true
-       end
 
-       redef fun <(other)
-       do
-               var self_chars = self.iterator
-               var other_chars = other.iterator
+               return new_str.to_s
+       end
 
-               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
+       # 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
 
-               if self_chars.is_ok then
-                       return false
-               else
-                       return true
-               end
+               return buf.to_s
        end
 end
 
-# View on Buffer objects, extends Sequence
-# for mutation operations
-abstract class BufferCharView
-       super StringCharView
-       super Sequence[Char]
+private class FlatSubstringsIter
+       super Iterator[FlatText]
 
-       redef type SELFTYPE: Buffer
-
-end
-
-abstract class String
-       super Text
+       var tgt: nullable FlatText
 
-       redef type SELFTYPE: String
+       redef fun item do
+               assert is_ok
+               return tgt.as(not null)
+       end
 
-       redef fun to_s do return self
+       redef fun is_ok do return tgt != null
 
+       redef fun next do tgt = null
 end
 
 # Immutable strings of characters.
@@ -631,38 +993,38 @@ 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
+       private var index_from: Int is noinit
 
        # Indes in _items of the last item of the string
-       private var index_to: Int
-
-       redef var chars: SELFVIEW = new FlatStringCharView(self)
+       private var index_to: Int is noinit
 
-       ################################################
-       #       AbstractString specific methods        #
-       ################################################
+       redef var chars: SequenceRead[Char] = new FlatStringCharView(self)
 
-       redef fun [](index) do
-               assert index >= 0
+       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 = calloc_string(self.length + 1)
-               var reviter = chars.reverse_iterator
+               var native = new NativeString(self.length + 1)
+               var length = self.length
+               var items = self.items
                var pos = 0
-               while reviter.is_ok do
-                       native[pos] = reviter.item
+               var ipos = length-1
+               while pos < length do
+                       native[pos] = items[ipos]
                        pos += 1
-                       reviter.next
+                       ipos -= 1
                end
                return native.to_s_with_length(self.length)
        end
@@ -692,7 +1054,7 @@ class FlatString
 
        redef fun to_upper
        do
-               var outstr = calloc_string(self.length + 1)
+               var outstr = new NativeString(self.length + 1)
                var out_index = 0
 
                var myitems = self.items
@@ -712,7 +1074,7 @@ class FlatString
 
        redef fun to_lower
        do
-               var outstr = calloc_string(self.length + 1)
+               var outstr = new NativeString(self.length + 1)
                var out_index = 0
 
                var myitems = self.items
@@ -752,18 +1114,17 @@ class FlatString
                index_to = to
        end
 
-       # Return a null terminated char *
        redef fun to_cstring: NativeString
        do
-               if real_items != null then return real_items.as(not null)
-               if index_from > 0 or index_to != items.cstring_length - 1 then
-                       var newItems = calloc_string(length + 1)
+               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
-               return items
        end
 
        redef fun ==(other)
@@ -793,9 +1154,6 @@ class FlatString
                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
@@ -832,9 +1190,6 @@ class FlatString
                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
@@ -842,7 +1197,7 @@ class FlatString
 
                var total_length = my_length + its_length
 
-               var target_string = calloc_string(my_length + its_length + 1)
+               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
@@ -851,8 +1206,9 @@ class FlatString
                        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
+                       for i in [0..s.length[ do
+                               var c = s.chars[i]
+                               target_string[curr_pos] = c
                                curr_pos += 1
                        end
                end
@@ -862,9 +1218,6 @@ class FlatString
                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
@@ -875,7 +1228,7 @@ class FlatString
 
                var my_items = self.items
 
-               var target_string = calloc_string((final_length) + 1)
+               var target_string = new NativeString(final_length + 1)
 
                target_string[final_length] = '\0'
 
@@ -892,18 +1245,15 @@ class FlatString
        redef fun hash
        do
                if hash_cache == null then
-                       # djb2 hash algorythm
+                       # djb2 hash algorithm
                        var h = 5381
-                       var i = length - 1
+                       var i = index_from
 
                        var myitems = items
-                       var strStart = index_from
-
-                       i += strStart
 
-                       while i >= strStart do
-                               h = (h * 32) + h + self.items[i].ascii
-                               i -= 1
+                       while i <= index_to do
+                               h = h.lshift(5) + h + myitems[i].ascii
+                               i += 1
                        end
 
                        hash_cache = h
@@ -911,6 +1261,8 @@ class FlatString
 
                return hash_cache.as(not null)
        end
+
+       redef fun substrings do return new FlatSubstringsIter(self)
 end
 
 private class FlatStringReverseIterator
@@ -929,7 +1281,7 @@ private class FlatStringReverseIterator
                curr_pos = pos + tgt.index_from
        end
 
-       redef fun is_ok do return curr_pos >= 0
+       redef fun is_ok do return curr_pos >= target.index_from
 
        redef fun item do return target_items[curr_pos]
 
@@ -975,6 +1327,7 @@ private class FlatStringCharView
                # 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
@@ -985,12 +1338,23 @@ private class FlatStringCharView
 
 end
 
+# A mutable sequence of characters.
 abstract class Buffer
        super Text
 
-       redef type SELFVIEW: BufferCharView
        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
@@ -1002,14 +1366,98 @@ abstract class Buffer
        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.
@@ -1017,31 +1465,57 @@ class FlatBuffer
        super FlatText
        super Buffer
 
-       redef type SELFVIEW: FlatBufferCharView
        redef type SELFTYPE: FlatBuffer
 
-       redef var chars: SELFVIEW = new FlatBufferCharView(self)
+       redef var chars: Sequence[Char] = new FlatBufferCharView(self)
 
-       var capacity: Int
+       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 length = 0
+       redef fun clear do
+               is_dirty = true
+               if written then reset
+               length = 0
+       end
 
        redef fun empty do return new FlatBuffer
 
@@ -1050,55 +1524,52 @@ class FlatBuffer
                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)
+               # 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
-               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)
+               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 real_items == null then
-                       var new_native = calloc_string(length + 1)
+               if is_dirty then
+                       var new_native = new NativeString(length + 1)
                        new_native[length] = '\0'
-                       items.copy_to(new_native, length, 0, 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
-               with_capacity(5)
-       end
+       init do end
 
+       # Create a new string copied from `s`.
        init from(s: Text)
        do
                capacity = s.length + 1
                length = s.length
-               items = calloc_string(capacity)
+               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 s.chars do
-                               items[curr_pos] = i
+                       for i in [0..s.length[ do
+                               var c = s.chars[i]
+                               items[curr_pos] = c
                                curr_pos += 1
                        end
                end
@@ -1109,13 +1580,15 @@ class FlatBuffer
        do
                assert cap >= 0
                # _items = new NativeString.calloc(cap)
-               items = calloc_string(cap+1)
+               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
@@ -1124,8 +1597,9 @@ class FlatBuffer
                        s.items.copy_to(items, sl, 0, length)
                else
                        var curr_pos = self.length
-                       for i in s.chars do
-                               items[curr_pos] = i
+                       for i in [0..s.length[ do
+                               var c = s.chars[i]
+                               items[curr_pos] = c
                                curr_pos += 1
                        end
                end
@@ -1160,32 +1634,49 @@ class FlatBuffer
                end
        end
 
-       redef fun reversed
+       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 new_buf = new FlatBuffer.with_capacity(self.length)
-               var reviter = self.chars.reverse_iterator
-               while reviter.is_ok do
-                       new_buf.add(reviter.item)
-                       reviter.next
+               var x = new FlatString.with_infos(items, length, 0, length - 1)
+               for i in [1..repeats[ do
+                       append(x)
                end
-               return new_buf
        end
 
-       redef fun +(other)
+       redef fun upper
        do
-               var new_buf = new FlatBuffer.with_capacity(self.length + other.length)
-               new_buf.append(self)
-               new_buf.append(other)
-               return new_buf
+               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 *(repeats)
+       redef fun lower
        do
-               var new_buf = new FlatBuffer.with_capacity(self.length * repeats)
-               for i in [0..repeats[ do
-                       new_buf.append(self)
+               if written then reset
+               var it = items
+               var id = length - 1
+               while id >= 0 do
+                       it[id] = it[id].to_lower
+                       id -= 1
                end
-               return new_buf
        end
 end
 
@@ -1201,7 +1692,7 @@ private class FlatBufferReverseIterator
        init with_pos(tgt: FlatBuffer, pos: Int)
        do
                target = tgt
-               target_items = tgt.items
+               if tgt.length > 0 then target_items = tgt.items
                curr_pos = pos
        end
 
@@ -1217,7 +1708,6 @@ end
 
 private class FlatBufferCharView
        super BufferCharView
-       super StringCapable
 
        redef type SELFTYPE: FlatBuffer
 
@@ -1250,7 +1740,6 @@ private class FlatBufferCharView
 
        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
@@ -1273,7 +1762,7 @@ private class FlatBufferIterator
        init with_pos(tgt: FlatBuffer, pos: Int)
        do
                target = tgt
-               target_items = tgt.items
+               if tgt.length > 0 then target_items = tgt.items
                curr_pos = pos
        end
 
@@ -1316,11 +1805,6 @@ redef class Object
        do
                return "{class_name}:#{object_id.to_hex}"
        end
-
-       protected fun args: Sequence[String]
-       do
-               return sys.args
-       end
 end
 
 redef class Bool
@@ -1337,9 +1821,18 @@ redef class Bool
 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
-       fun fill_buffer(s: Buffer, base: Int, signed: Bool)
+       private fun fill_buffer(s: Buffer, base: Int, signed: Bool)
        do
                var n: Int
                # Sign
@@ -1362,18 +1855,20 @@ redef class Int
        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"
+       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
-               var len = digit_count(10)
-               return native_int_to_s(len).to_s_with_length(len)
+               return native_int_to_s.to_s
        end
 
-       # return displayable int in hexadecimal (unsigned (not now))
+       # 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
@@ -1387,7 +1882,12 @@ redef class Int
 end
 
 redef class Float
-       # Pretty print self, print needoed decimals up to a max of 3.
+       # 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
@@ -1406,8 +1906,15 @@ redef class Float
                return str
        end
 
-       # `self` representation with `nb` digits after the '.'.
-       fun to_precision(nb: Int): String
+       # `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"
 
@@ -1418,27 +1925,42 @@ redef class Float
                        return  "-inf"
                end
 
-               if nb == 0 then return self.to_i.to_s
+               if decimals == 0 then return self.to_i.to_s
                var f = self
-               for i in [0..nb[ do f = f * 10.0
+               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"
-               var s = i.to_s
+               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
-               if sl > nb then
-                       var p1 = s.substring(0, s.length-nb)
-                       var p2 = s.substring(s.length-nb, nb)
-                       return p1 + "." + p2
+               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
-                       return "0." + ("0"*(nb-sl)) + s
+                       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;
@@ -1461,27 +1983,37 @@ redef class Char
        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
-               if self >= '0' and self <= '9'
-               then
-                       return true
-               end
-               return false
+               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
-               if (self >= 'a' and self <= 'z') or (self >= 'A' and self <= 'Z') then return true
-               return false
+               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
-               if self.is_numeric or self.is_alpha then return true
-               return false
+               return self.is_numeric or self.is_alpha
        end
 end
 
@@ -1498,7 +2030,7 @@ redef class Collection[E]
        #
        #     assert [1, 2, 3].join(":")         == "1:2:3"
        #     assert [1..3].join(":")            == "1:2:3"
-       fun join(sep: String): String
+       fun join(sep: Text): String
        do
                if is_empty then return ""
 
@@ -1522,18 +2054,51 @@ redef class Collection[E]
 end
 
 redef class Array[E]
+
        # Fast implementation
        redef fun to_s
        do
-               var s = new FlatBuffer
-               var i = 0
                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 e = self[i]
-                       if e != null then s.append(e.to_s)
+                       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
-               return s.to_s
+               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
 
@@ -1576,11 +2141,17 @@ end
 ###############################################################################
 
 # Native strings are simple C char *
-class NativeString
-       super StringCapable
+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.
@@ -1590,7 +2161,11 @@ class NativeString
                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
@@ -1598,31 +2173,32 @@ class NativeString
                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
-               return new FlatString.with_infos(self, length, 0, length - 1)
+               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 = calloc_string(length + 1)
+               var new_self = new NativeString(length + 1)
                copy_to(new_self, length, 0, 0)
-               return new FlatString.with_infos(new_self, length, 0, length - 1)
+               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
-
-# 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]
+       private var args_cache: nullable Sequence[String]
 
-       redef fun args: 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)
@@ -1634,7 +2210,7 @@ redef class Sys
                return native_argv(0).to_s
        end
 
-       # Initialize `args` with the contents of `native_argc` and `native_argv`.
+       # Initialize `program_args` with the contents of `native_argc` and `native_argv`.
        private fun init_args
        do
                var argc = native_argc
@@ -1654,3 +2230,54 @@ redef class Sys
        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