lib/standard: Introduce text subgroup for all string-manipulations
[nit.git] / lib / standard / string.nit
diff --git a/lib/standard/string.nit b/lib/standard/string.nit
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-# This file is part of NIT ( http://www.nitlanguage.org ).
-#
-# Copyright 2004-2008 Jean Privat <jean@pryen.org>
-# Copyright 2006-2008 Floréal Morandat <morandat@lirmm.fr>
-#
-# This file is free software, which comes along with NIT.  This software is
-# distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY;
-# without  even  the implied warranty of  MERCHANTABILITY or  FITNESS FOR A
-# PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  You can modify it is you want,  provided this header
-# is kept unaltered, and a notification of the changes is added.
-# You  are  allowed  to  redistribute it and sell it, alone or is a part of
-# another product.
-
-# Basic manipulations of strings of characters
-module string
-
-import math
-import collection
-intrude import collection::array
-
-`{
-#include <stdio.h>
-#include <string.h>
-`}
-
-###############################################################################
-# String                                                                      #
-###############################################################################
-
-# High-level abstraction for all text representations
-abstract class Text
-       super Comparable
-
-       redef type OTHER: Text
-
-       # Type of self (used for factorization of several methods, ex : substring_from, empty...)
-       type SELFTYPE: Text
-
-       # Gets a view on the chars of the Text object
-       #
-       #     assert "hello".chars.to_a == ['h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o']
-       fun chars: SequenceRead[Char] is abstract
-
-       # Number of characters contained in self.
-       #
-       #     assert "12345".length == 5
-       #     assert "".length == 0
-       fun length: Int is abstract
-
-       # Create a substring.
-       #
-       #     assert "abcd".substring(1, 2)      ==  "bc"
-       #     assert "abcd".substring(-1, 2)     ==  "a"
-       #     assert "abcd".substring(1, 0)      ==  ""
-       #     assert "abcd".substring(2, 5)      ==  "cd"
-       #
-       # A `from` index < 0 will be replaced by 0.
-       # Unless a `count` value is > 0 at the same time.
-       # In this case, `from += count` and `count -= from`.
-       fun substring(from: Int, count: Int): SELFTYPE is abstract
-
-       # Iterates on the substrings of self if any
-       fun substrings: Iterator[FlatText] is abstract
-
-       # Is the current Text empty (== "")
-       #
-       #     assert "".is_empty
-       #     assert not "foo".is_empty
-       fun is_empty: Bool do return self.length == 0
-
-       # Returns an empty Text of the right type
-       #
-       # This method is used internally to get the right
-       # implementation of an empty string.
-       protected fun empty: SELFTYPE is abstract
-
-       # Gets the first char of the Text
-       #
-       # DEPRECATED : Use self.chars.first instead
-       fun first: Char do return self.chars[0]
-
-       # Access a character at `index` in the string.
-       #
-       #     assert "abcd"[2]         == 'c'
-       #
-       # DEPRECATED : Use self.chars.[] instead
-       fun [](index: Int): Char do return self.chars[index]
-
-       # Gets the index of the first occurence of 'c'
-       #
-       # Returns -1 if not found
-       #
-       # DEPRECATED : Use self.chars.index_of instead
-       fun index_of(c: Char): Int
-       do
-               return index_of_from(c, 0)
-       end
-
-       # Gets the last char of self
-       #
-       # DEPRECATED : Use self.chars.last instead
-       fun last: Char do return self.chars[length-1]
-
-       # Gets the index of the first occurence of ´c´ starting from ´pos´
-       #
-       # Returns -1 if not found
-       #
-       # DEPRECATED : Use self.chars.index_of_from instead
-       fun index_of_from(c: Char, pos: Int): Int
-       do
-               var iter = self.chars.iterator_from(pos)
-               while iter.is_ok do
-                       if iter.item == c then return iter.index
-                       iter.next
-               end
-               return -1
-       end
-
-       # Gets the last index of char ´c´
-       #
-       # Returns -1 if not found
-       #
-       # DEPRECATED : Use self.chars.last_index_of instead
-       fun last_index_of(c: Char): Int
-       do
-               return last_index_of_from(c, length - 1)
-       end
-
-       # Return a null terminated char *
-       fun to_cstring: NativeString is abstract
-
-       # The index of the last occurrence of an element starting from pos (in reverse order).
-       #
-       #     var s = "/etc/bin/test/test.nit"
-       #     assert s.last_index_of_from('/', s.length-1) == 13
-       #     assert s.last_index_of_from('/', 12)         == 8
-       #
-       # Returns -1 if not found
-       #
-       # DEPRECATED : Use self.chars.last_index_of_from instead
-       fun last_index_of_from(item: Char, pos: Int): Int
-       do
-               var iter = self.chars.reverse_iterator_from(pos)
-               while iter.is_ok do
-                       if iter.item == item then return iter.index
-                       iter.next
-               end
-               return -1
-       end
-
-       # Gets an iterator on the chars of self
-       #
-       # DEPRECATED : Use self.chars.iterator instead
-       fun iterator: Iterator[Char]
-       do
-               return self.chars.iterator
-       end
-
-
-       # Gets an Array containing the chars of self
-       #
-       # DEPRECATED : Use self.chars.to_a instead
-       fun to_a: Array[Char] do return chars.to_a
-
-       # Create a substring from `self` beginning at the `from` position
-       #
-       #     assert "abcd".substring_from(1)    ==  "bcd"
-       #     assert "abcd".substring_from(-1)   ==  "abcd"
-       #     assert "abcd".substring_from(2)    ==  "cd"
-       #
-       # As with substring, a `from` index < 0 will be replaced by 0
-       fun substring_from(from: Int): SELFTYPE
-       do
-               if from >= self.length then return empty
-               if from < 0 then from = 0
-               return substring(from, length - from)
-       end
-
-       # Does self have a substring `str` starting from position `pos`?
-       #
-       #     assert "abcd".has_substring("bc",1)            ==  true
-       #     assert "abcd".has_substring("bc",2)            ==  false
-       #
-       # Returns true iff all characters of `str` are presents
-       # at the expected index in `self.`
-       # The first character of `str` being at `pos`, the second
-       # character being at `pos+1` and so on...
-       #
-       # This means that all characters of `str` need to be inside `self`.
-       #
-       #     assert "abcd".has_substring("xab", -1)         == false
-       #     assert "abcd".has_substring("cdx", 2)          == false
-       #
-       # And that the empty string is always a valid substring.
-       #
-       #     assert "abcd".has_substring("", 2)             == true
-       #     assert "abcd".has_substring("", 200)           == true
-       fun has_substring(str: String, pos: Int): Bool
-       do
-               if str.is_empty then return true
-               if pos < 0 or pos + str.length > length then return false
-               var myiter = self.chars.iterator_from(pos)
-               var itsiter = str.chars.iterator
-               while myiter.is_ok and itsiter.is_ok do
-                       if myiter.item != itsiter.item then return false
-                       myiter.next
-                       itsiter.next
-               end
-               if itsiter.is_ok then return false
-               return true
-       end
-
-       # Is this string prefixed by `prefix`?
-       #
-       #     assert "abcd".has_prefix("ab")           ==  true
-       #     assert "abcbc".has_prefix("bc")          ==  false
-       #     assert "ab".has_prefix("abcd")           ==  false
-       fun has_prefix(prefix: String): Bool do return has_substring(prefix,0)
-
-       # Is this string suffixed by `suffix`?
-       #
-       #     assert "abcd".has_suffix("abc")        ==  false
-       #     assert "abcd".has_suffix("bcd")        ==  true
-       fun has_suffix(suffix: String): Bool do return has_substring(suffix, length - suffix.length)
-
-       # If `self` contains only digits, return the corresponding integer
-       #
-       #     assert "123".to_i        == 123
-       #     assert "-1".to_i         == -1
-       fun to_i: Int
-       do
-               # Shortcut
-               return to_s.to_cstring.atoi
-       end
-
-       # If `self` contains a float, return the corresponding float
-       #
-       #     assert "123".to_f        == 123.0
-       #     assert "-1".to_f         == -1.0
-       #     assert "-1.2e-3".to_f    == -0.0012
-       fun to_f: Float
-       do
-               # Shortcut
-               return to_s.to_cstring.atof
-       end
-
-       # If `self` contains only digits and alpha <= 'f', return the corresponding integer.
-       #
-       #     assert "ff".to_hex == 255
-       fun to_hex: Int do return a_to(16)
-
-       # If `self` contains only digits <= '7', return the corresponding integer.
-       #
-       #     assert "714".to_oct == 460
-       fun to_oct: Int do return a_to(8)
-
-       # If `self` contains only '0' et '1', return the corresponding integer.
-       #
-       #     assert "101101".to_bin == 45
-       fun to_bin: Int do return a_to(2)
-
-       # If `self` contains only digits and letters, return the corresponding integer in a given base
-       #
-       #     assert "120".a_to(3)     == 15
-       fun a_to(base: Int) : Int
-       do
-               var i = 0
-               var neg = false
-
-               for j in [0..length[ do
-                       var c = chars[j]
-                       var v = c.to_i
-                       if v > base then
-                               if neg then
-                                       return -i
-                               else
-                                       return i
-                               end
-                       else if v < 0 then
-                               neg = true
-                       else
-                               i = i * base + v
-                       end
-               end
-               if neg then
-                       return -i
-               else
-                       return i
-               end
-       end
-
-       # Returns `true` if the string contains only Numeric values (and one "," or one "." character)
-       #
-       #     assert "123".is_numeric  == true
-       #     assert "1.2".is_numeric  == true
-       #     assert "1,2".is_numeric  == true
-       #     assert "1..2".is_numeric == false
-       fun is_numeric: Bool
-       do
-               var has_point_or_comma = false
-               for i in [0..length[ do
-                       var c = chars[i]
-                       if not c.is_numeric then
-                               if (c == '.' or c == ',') and not has_point_or_comma then
-                                       has_point_or_comma = true
-                               else
-                                       return false
-                               end
-                       end
-               end
-               return true
-       end
-
-       # Returns `true` if the string contains only Hex chars
-       #
-       #     assert "048bf".is_hex  == true
-       #     assert "ABCDEF".is_hex  == true
-       #     assert "0G".is_hex == false
-       fun is_hex: Bool
-       do
-               for i in [0..length[ do
-                       var c = chars[i]
-                       if not (c >= 'a' and c <= 'f') and
-                          not (c >= 'A' and c <= 'F') and
-                          not (c >= '0' and c <= '9') then return false
-               end
-               return true
-       end
-
-       # Are all letters in `self` upper-case ?
-       #
-       #     assert "HELLO WORLD".is_upper == true
-       #     assert "%$&%!".is_upper       == true
-       #     assert "hello world".is_upper == false
-       #     assert "Hello World".is_upper == false
-       fun is_upper: Bool
-       do
-               for i in [0..length[ do
-                       var char = chars[i]
-                       if char.is_lower then return false
-               end
-               return true
-       end
-
-       # Are all letters in `self` lower-case ?
-       #
-       #     assert "hello world".is_lower == true
-       #     assert "%$&%!".is_lower       == true
-       #     assert "Hello World".is_lower == false
-       fun is_lower: Bool
-       do
-               for i in [0..length[ do
-                       var char = chars[i]
-                       if char.is_upper then return false
-               end
-               return true
-       end
-
-       # Removes the whitespaces at the beginning of self
-       #
-       #     assert " \n\thello \n\t".l_trim == "hello \n\t"
-       #
-       # `Char::is_whitespace` determines what is a whitespace.
-       fun l_trim: SELFTYPE
-       do
-               var iter = self.chars.iterator
-               while iter.is_ok do
-                       if not iter.item.is_whitespace then break
-                       iter.next
-               end
-               if iter.index == length then return self.empty
-               return self.substring_from(iter.index)
-       end
-
-       # Removes the whitespaces at the end of self
-       #
-       #     assert " \n\thello \n\t".r_trim == " \n\thello"
-       #
-       # `Char::is_whitespace` determines what is a whitespace.
-       fun r_trim: SELFTYPE
-       do
-               var iter = self.chars.reverse_iterator
-               while iter.is_ok do
-                       if not iter.item.is_whitespace then break
-                       iter.next
-               end
-               if iter.index < 0 then return self.empty
-               return self.substring(0, iter.index + 1)
-       end
-
-       # Trims trailing and preceding white spaces
-       #
-       #     assert "  Hello  World !  ".trim   == "Hello  World !"
-       #     assert "\na\nb\tc\t".trim          == "a\nb\tc"
-       #
-       # `Char::is_whitespace` determines what is a whitespace.
-       fun trim: SELFTYPE do return (self.l_trim).r_trim
-
-       # Is the string non-empty but only made of whitespaces?
-       #
-       #    assert " \n\t ".is_whitespace    == true
-       #    assert "  hello  ".is_whitespace == false
-       #    assert "".is_whitespace          == false
-       #
-       # `Char::is_whitespace` determines what is a whitespace.
-       fun is_whitespace: Bool
-       do
-               if is_empty then return false
-               for c in self.chars do
-                       if not c.is_whitespace then return false
-               end
-               return true
-       end
-
-       # Returns `self` removed from its last line terminator (if any).
-       #
-       #    assert "Hello\n".chomp == "Hello"
-       #    assert "Hello".chomp   == "Hello"
-       #
-       #    assert "\n".chomp == ""
-       #    assert "".chomp   == ""
-       #
-       # Line terminators are `"\n"`, `"\r\n"` and `"\r"`.
-       # A single line terminator, the last one, is removed.
-       #
-       #    assert "\r\n".chomp     == ""
-       #    assert "\r\n\n".chomp   == "\r\n"
-       #    assert "\r\n\r\n".chomp == "\r\n"
-       #    assert "\r\n\r".chomp   == "\r\n"
-       #
-       # Note: unlike with most IO methods like `Reader::read_line`,
-       # a single `\r` is considered here to be a line terminator and will be removed.
-       fun chomp: SELFTYPE
-       do
-               var len = length
-               if len == 0 then return self
-               var l = self.chars.last
-               if l == '\r' then
-                       return substring(0, len-1)
-               else if l != '\n' then
-                       return self
-               else if len > 1 and self.chars[len-2] == '\r' then
-                       return substring(0, len-2)
-               else
-                       return substring(0, len-1)
-               end
-       end
-
-       # Justify a self in a space of `length`
-       #
-       # `left` is the space ratio on the left side.
-       # * 0.0 for left-justified (no space at the left)
-       # * 1.0 for right-justified (all spaces at the left)
-       # * 0.5 for centered (half the spaces at the left)
-       #
-       # Examples
-       #
-       #     assert "hello".justify(10, 0.0)  == "hello     "
-       #     assert "hello".justify(10, 1.0)  == "     hello"
-       #     assert "hello".justify(10, 0.5)  == "  hello   "
-       #
-       # If `length` is not enough, `self` is returned as is.
-       #
-       #     assert "hello".justify(2, 0.0)   == "hello"
-       #
-       # REQUIRE: `left >= 0.0 and left <= 1.0`
-       # ENSURE: `self.length <= length implies result.length == length`
-       # ENSURE: `self.length >= length implies result == self`
-       fun justify(length: Int, left: Float): String
-       do
-               var diff = length - self.length
-               if diff <= 0 then return to_s
-               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 and underscores.
-       #
-       # This method is injective (two different inputs never produce the same
-       # output) and the returned string always respect the following rules:
-       #
-       # * Contains only US-ASCII letters, digits and underscores.
-       # * Never starts with a digit.
-       # * Never ends with an underscore.
-       # * Never contains two contiguous underscores.
-       #
-       #     assert "42_is/The answer!".to_cmangle == "_52d2_is_47dThe_32danswer_33d"
-       #     assert "__".to_cmangle == "_95d_95d"
-       #     assert "__d".to_cmangle == "_95d_d"
-       #     assert "_d_".to_cmangle == "_d_95d"
-       #     assert "_42".to_cmangle == "_95d42"
-       #     assert "foo".to_cmangle == "foo"
-       #     assert "".to_cmangle == ""
-       fun to_cmangle: String
-       do
-               if is_empty then return ""
-               var res = new Buffer
-               var underscore = false
-               var start = 0
-               var c = chars[0]
-
-               if c >= '0' and c <= '9' then
-                       res.add('_')
-                       res.append(c.ascii.to_s)
-                       res.add('d')
-                       start = 1
-               end
-               for i in [start..length[ do
-                       c = chars[i]
-                       if (c >= 'a' and c <= 'z') or (c >='A' and c <= 'Z') then
-                               res.add(c)
-                               underscore = false
-                               continue
-                       end
-                       if underscore then
-                               res.append('_'.ascii.to_s)
-                               res.add('d')
-                       end
-                       if c >= '0' and c <= '9' then
-                               res.add(c)
-                               underscore = false
-                       else if c == '_' then
-                               res.add(c)
-                               underscore = true
-                       else
-                               res.add('_')
-                               res.append(c.ascii.to_s)
-                               res.add('d')
-                               underscore = false
-                       end
-               end
-               if underscore then
-                       res.append('_'.ascii.to_s)
-                       res.add('d')
-               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\\\"\\'\\\\"
-       #
-       # Most non-printable characters (bellow ASCII 32) are escaped to an octal form `\nnn`.
-       # Three digits are always used to avoid following digits to be interpreted as an element
-       # of the octal sequence.
-       #
-       #     assert "{0.ascii}{1.ascii}{8.ascii}{31.ascii}{32.ascii}".escape_to_c == "\\000\\001\\010\\037 "
-       #
-       # The exceptions are the common `\t` and `\n`.
-       fun escape_to_c: String
-       do
-               var b = new Buffer
-               for i in [0..length[ do
-                       var c = chars[i]
-                       if c == '\n' then
-                               b.append("\\n")
-                       else if c == '\t' then
-                               b.append("\\t")
-                       else if c == '\0' then
-                               b.append("\\000")
-                       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.add('\\')
-                               var oct = c.ascii.to_base(8, false)
-                               # Force 3 octal digits since it is the
-                               # maximum allowed in the C specification
-                               if oct.length == 1 then
-                                       b.add('0')
-                                       b.add('0')
-                               else if oct.length == 2 then
-                                       b.add('0')
-                               end
-                               b.append(oct)
-                       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 Buffer
-               for c in escape_to_c.chars do
-                       if chars.chars.has(c) then
-                               b.add('\\')
-                       end
-                       b.add(c)
-               end
-               return b.to_s
-       end
-
-       # Escape to C plus braces
-       #
-       #     assert "\n\"'\\\{\}".escape_to_nit      == "\\n\\\"\\'\\\\\\\{\\\}"
-       fun escape_to_nit: String do return escape_more_to_c("\{\}")
-
-       # Escape to POSIX Shell (sh).
-       #
-       # Abort if the text contains a null byte.
-       #
-       #     assert "\n\"'\\\{\}0".escape_to_sh == "'\n\"'\\''\\\{\}0'"
-       fun escape_to_sh: String do
-               var b = new Buffer
-               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 Buffer
-               for i in [0..length[ do
-                       var c = chars[i]
-                       if c == '$' then
-                               b.append("$$")
-                       else if c == ':' or c == ' ' or c == '#' then
-                               b.add('\\')
-                               b.add(c)
-                       else if c.ascii < 32 or c == ';' or c == '|' or c == '\\' or c == '=' then
-                               b.append("?{c.ascii.to_base(16, false)}")
-                       else
-                               b.add(c)
-                       end
-               end
-               return b.to_s
-       end
-
-       # Return a string where Nit escape sequences are transformed.
-       #
-       #     var s = "\\n"
-       #     assert s.length        ==  2
-       #     var u = s.unescape_nit
-       #     assert u.length        ==  1
-       #     assert u.chars[0].ascii      ==  10 # (the ASCII value of the "new line" character)
-       fun unescape_nit: String
-       do
-               var res = new Buffer.with_cap(self.length)
-               var was_slash = false
-               for i in [0..length[ do
-                       var c = chars[i]
-                       if not was_slash then
-                               if c == '\\' then
-                                       was_slash = true
-                               else
-                                       res.add(c)
-                               end
-                               continue
-                       end
-                       was_slash = false
-                       if c == 'n' then
-                               res.add('\n')
-                       else if c == 'r' then
-                               res.add('\r')
-                       else if c == 't' then
-                               res.add('\t')
-                       else if c == '0' then
-                               res.add('\0')
-                       else
-                               res.add(c)
-                       end
-               end
-               return res.to_s
-       end
-
-       # Encode `self` to percent (or URL) encoding
-       #
-       #     assert "aBc09-._~".to_percent_encoding == "aBc09-._~"
-       #     assert "%()< >".to_percent_encoding == "%25%28%29%3c%20%3e"
-       #     assert ".com/post?e=asdf&f=123".to_percent_encoding == ".com%2fpost%3fe%3dasdf%26f%3d123"
-       fun to_percent_encoding: String
-       do
-               var buf = new Buffer
-
-               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 Buffer
-
-               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: String
-       do
-               var buf = new Buffer
-
-               for i in [0..length[ do
-                       var c = chars[i]
-                       if c == '&' then
-                               buf.append "&amp;"
-                       else if c == '<' then
-                               buf.append "&lt;"
-                       else if c == '>' then
-                               buf.append "&gt;"
-                       else if c == '"' then
-                               buf.append "&#34;"
-                       else if c == '\'' then
-                               buf.append "&#39;"
-                       else if c == '/' then
-                               buf.append "&#47;"
-                       else buf.add c
-               end
-
-               return buf.to_s
-       end
-
-       # Equality of text
-       # Two pieces of text are equals if thez have the same characters in the same order.
-       #
-       #     assert "hello" == "hello"
-       #     assert "hello" != "HELLO"
-       #     assert "hello" == "hel"+"lo"
-       #
-       # Things that are not Text are not equal.
-       #
-       #     assert "9" != '9'
-       #     assert "9" != ['9']
-       #     assert "9" != 9
-       #
-       #     assert "9".chars.first == '9'   # equality of Char
-       #     assert "9".chars       == ['9'] # equality of Sequence
-       #     assert "9".to_i        == 9     # equality of Int
-       redef fun ==(o)
-       do
-               if o == null then return false
-               if not o isa Text then return false
-               if self.is_same_instance(o) then return true
-               if self.length != o.length then return false
-               return self.chars == o.chars
-       end
-
-       # Lexicographical comparaison
-       #
-       #     assert "abc" < "xy"
-       #     assert "ABC" < "abc"
-       redef fun <(other)
-       do
-               var self_chars = self.chars.iterator
-               var other_chars = other.chars.iterator
-
-               while self_chars.is_ok and other_chars.is_ok do
-                       if self_chars.item < other_chars.item then return true
-                       if self_chars.item > other_chars.item then return false
-                       self_chars.next
-                       other_chars.next
-               end
-
-               if self_chars.is_ok then
-                       return false
-               else
-                       return true
-               end
-       end
-
-       # Escape string used in labels for graphviz
-       #
-       #   assert ">><<".escape_to_dot == "\\>\\>\\<\\<"
-       fun escape_to_dot: String
-       do
-               return escape_more_to_c("|\{\}<>")
-       end
-
-       private var hash_cache: nullable Int = null
-
-       redef fun hash
-       do
-               if hash_cache == null then
-                       # djb2 hash algorithm
-                       var h = 5381
-
-                       for i in [0..length[ do
-                               var char = chars[i]
-                               h = h.lshift(5) + h + char.ascii
-                       end
-
-                       hash_cache = h
-               end
-               return hash_cache.as(not null)
-       end
-
-       # Gives the formatted string back as a Nit string with `args` in place
-       #
-       #    assert "This %1 is a %2.".format("String", "formatted String") == "This String is a formatted String."
-       #    assert "\\%1 This string".format("String") == "\\%1 This string"
-       fun format(args: Object...): String do
-               var s = new Array[Text]
-               var curr_st = 0
-               var i = 0
-               while i < length do
-                       # Skip escaped characters
-                       if self[i] == '\\' then
-                               i += 1
-                       # In case of format
-                       else if self[i] == '%' then
-                               var fmt_st = i
-                               i += 1
-                               var ciph_st = i
-                               while i < length and self[i].is_numeric do
-                                       i += 1
-                               end
-                               i -= 1
-                               var fmt_end = i
-                               var ciph_len = fmt_end - ciph_st + 1
-                               s.push substring(curr_st, fmt_st - curr_st)
-                               s.push args[substring(ciph_st, ciph_len).to_i - 1].to_s
-                               curr_st = i + 1
-                       end
-                       i += 1
-               end
-               s.push substring(curr_st, length - curr_st)
-               return s.to_s
-       end
-
-       # Copies `n` bytes from `self` at `src_offset` into `dest` starting at `dest_offset`
-       #
-       # Basically a high-level synonym of NativeString::copy_to
-       #
-       # REQUIRE: `n` must be large enough to contain `len` bytes
-       #
-       #       var ns = new NativeString(8)
-       #       "Text is String".copy_to_native(ns, 8, 2, 0)
-       #       assert ns.to_s_with_length(8) == "xt is St"
-       #
-       fun copy_to_native(dest: NativeString, n, src_offset, dest_offset: Int) do
-               var mypos = src_offset
-               var itspos = dest_offset
-               while n > 0 do
-                       dest[itspos] = self.chars[mypos]
-                       itspos += 1
-                       mypos += 1
-                       n -= 1
-               end
-       end
-
-end
-
-# All kinds of array-based text representations.
-abstract class FlatText
-       super Text
-
-       # Underlying C-String (`char*`)
-       #
-       # Warning : Might be void in some subclasses, be sure to check
-       # if set before using it.
-       private var items: NativeString is noinit
-
-       # Real items, used as cache for to_cstring is called
-       private var real_items: nullable NativeString = null
-
-       # Returns a char* starting at position `index_from`
-       #
-       # WARNING: If you choose to use this service, be careful of the following.
-       #
-       # Strings and NativeString are *ideally* always allocated through a Garbage Collector.
-       # Since the GC tracks the use of the pointer for the beginning of the char*, it may be
-       # deallocated at any moment, rendering the pointer returned by this function invalid.
-       # Any access to freed memory may very likely cause undefined behaviour or a crash.
-       # (Failure to do so will most certainly result in long and painful debugging hours)
-       #
-       # The only safe use of this pointer is if it is ephemeral (e.g. read in a C function
-       # then immediately return).
-       #
-       # As always, do not modify the content of the String in C code, if this is what you want
-       # copy locally the char* as Nit Strings are immutable.
-       private fun fast_cstring: NativeString is abstract
-
-       redef var length = 0
-
-       redef fun output
-       do
-               var i = 0
-               while i < length do
-                       items[i].output
-                       i += 1
-               end
-       end
-
-       redef fun copy_to_native(dest, n, src_offset, dest_offset) do
-               items.copy_to(dest, n, src_offset, dest_offset)
-       end
-end
-
-# Abstract class for the SequenceRead compatible
-# views on String and Buffer objects
-private abstract class StringCharView
-       super SequenceRead[Char]
-
-       type SELFTYPE: Text
-
-       var target: SELFTYPE
-
-       redef fun is_empty do return target.is_empty
-
-       redef fun length do return target.length
-
-       redef fun iterator: IndexedIterator[Char] do return self.iterator_from(0)
-
-       redef fun reverse_iterator do return self.reverse_iterator_from(self.length - 1)
-end
-
-# View on Buffer objects, extends Sequence
-# for mutation operations
-private abstract class BufferCharView
-       super StringCharView
-       super Sequence[Char]
-
-       redef type SELFTYPE: Buffer
-
-end
-
-# A `String` holds and manipulates an arbitrary sequence of characters.
-#
-# String objects may be created using literals.
-#
-#     assert "Hello World!" isa String
-abstract class String
-       super Text
-
-       redef type SELFTYPE: String is fixed
-
-       redef fun to_s do return self
-
-       # Concatenates `o` to `self`
-       #
-       #     assert "hello" + "world"  == "helloworld"
-       #     assert "" + "hello" + ""  == "hello"
-       fun +(o: Text): SELFTYPE is abstract
-
-       # Concatenates self `i` times
-       #
-       #     assert "abc" * 4 == "abcabcabcabc"
-       #     assert "abc" * 1 == "abc"
-       #     assert "abc" * 0 == ""
-       fun *(i: Int): SELFTYPE is abstract
-
-       # Insert `s` at `pos`.
-       #
-       #     assert "helloworld".insert_at(" ", 5)     == "hello world"
-       fun insert_at(s: String, pos: Int): SELFTYPE is abstract
-
-       redef fun substrings is abstract
-
-       # Returns a reversed version of self
-       #
-       #     assert "hello".reversed  == "olleh"
-       #     assert "bob".reversed    == "bob"
-       #     assert "".reversed       == ""
-       fun reversed: SELFTYPE is abstract
-
-       # A upper case version of `self`
-       #
-       #     assert "Hello World!".to_upper     == "HELLO WORLD!"
-       fun to_upper: SELFTYPE is abstract
-
-       # A lower case version of `self`
-       #
-       #     assert "Hello World!".to_lower     == "hello world!"
-       fun to_lower : SELFTYPE is abstract
-
-       # Takes a camel case `self` and converts it to snake case
-       #
-       #     assert "randomMethodId".to_snake_case == "random_method_id"
-       #
-       # The rules are the following:
-       #
-       # An uppercase is always converted to a lowercase
-       #
-       #     assert "HELLO_WORLD".to_snake_case == "hello_world"
-       #
-       # An uppercase that follows a lowercase is prefixed with an underscore
-       #
-       #     assert "HelloTheWORLD".to_snake_case == "hello_the_world"
-       #
-       # An uppercase that follows an uppercase and is followed by a lowercase, is prefixed with an underscore
-       #
-       #     assert "HelloTHEWorld".to_snake_case == "hello_the_world"
-       #
-       # All other characters are kept as is; `self` does not need to be a proper CamelCased string.
-       #
-       #     assert "=-_H3ll0Th3W0rld_-=".to_snake_case == "=-_h3ll0th3w0rld_-="
-       fun to_snake_case: SELFTYPE
-       do
-               if self.is_lower then return self
-
-               var new_str = new Buffer.with_cap(self.length)
-               var prev_is_lower = false
-               var prev_is_upper = false
-
-               for i in [0..length[ do
-                       var char = chars[i]
-                       if char.is_lower then
-                               new_str.add(char)
-                               prev_is_lower = true
-                               prev_is_upper = false
-                       else if char.is_upper then
-                               if prev_is_lower then
-                                       new_str.add('_')
-                               else if prev_is_upper and i+1 < length and chars[i+1].is_lower then
-                                       new_str.add('_')
-                               end
-                               new_str.add(char.to_lower)
-                               prev_is_lower = false
-                               prev_is_upper = true
-                       else
-                               new_str.add(char)
-                               prev_is_lower = false
-                               prev_is_upper = false
-                       end
-               end
-
-               return new_str.to_s
-       end
-
-       # Takes a snake case `self` and converts it to camel case
-       #
-       #     assert "random_method_id".to_camel_case == "randomMethodId"
-       #
-       # If the identifier is prefixed by an underscore, the underscore is ignored
-       #
-       #     assert "_private_field".to_camel_case == "_privateField"
-       #
-       # If `self` is upper, it is returned unchanged
-       #
-       #     assert "RANDOM_ID".to_camel_case == "RANDOM_ID"
-       #
-       # If there are several consecutive underscores, they are considered as a single one
-       #
-       #     assert "random__method_id".to_camel_case == "randomMethodId"
-       fun to_camel_case: SELFTYPE
-       do
-               if self.is_upper then return self
-
-               var new_str = new Buffer
-               var is_first_char = true
-               var follows_us = false
-
-               for i in [0..length[ do
-                       var char = chars[i]
-                       if is_first_char then
-                               new_str.add(char)
-                               is_first_char = false
-                       else if char == '_' then
-                               follows_us = true
-                       else if follows_us then
-                               new_str.add(char.to_upper)
-                               follows_us = false
-                       else
-                               new_str.add(char)
-                       end
-               end
-
-               return new_str.to_s
-       end
-
-       # Returns a capitalized `self`
-       #
-       # Letters that follow a letter are lowercased
-       # Letters that follow a non-letter are upcased.
-       #
-       # SEE : `Char::is_letter` for the definition of letter.
-       #
-       #     assert "jAVASCRIPT".capitalized == "Javascript"
-       #     assert "i am root".capitalized == "I Am Root"
-       #     assert "ab_c -ab0c ab\nc".capitalized == "Ab_C -Ab0C Ab\nC"
-       fun capitalized: SELFTYPE do
-               if length == 0 then return self
-
-               var buf = new Buffer.with_cap(length)
-
-               var curr = chars[0].to_upper
-               var prev = curr
-               buf[0] = curr
-
-               for i in [1 .. length[ do
-                       prev = curr
-                       curr = self[i]
-                       if prev.is_letter then
-                               buf[i] = curr.to_lower
-                       else
-                               buf[i] = curr.to_upper
-                       end
-               end
-
-               return buf.to_s
-       end
-end
-
-private class FlatSubstringsIter
-       super Iterator[FlatText]
-
-       var tgt: nullable FlatText
-
-       redef fun item do
-               assert is_ok
-               return tgt.as(not null)
-       end
-
-       redef fun is_ok do return tgt != null
-
-       redef fun next do tgt = null
-end
-
-# Immutable strings of characters.
-class FlatString
-       super FlatText
-       super String
-
-       # Index in _items of the start of the string
-       private var index_from: Int is noinit
-
-       # Indes in _items of the last item of the string
-       private var index_to: Int is noinit
-
-       redef var chars = new FlatStringCharView(self) is lazy
-
-       redef fun [](index)
-       do
-               # Check that the index (+ index_from) is not larger than indexTo
-               # In other terms, if the index is valid
-               assert index >= 0
-               assert (index + index_from) <= index_to
-               return items[index + index_from]
-       end
-
-       ################################################
-       #       AbstractString specific methods        #
-       ################################################
-
-       redef fun reversed
-       do
-               var native = new NativeString(self.length + 1)
-               var length = self.length
-               var items = self.items
-               var pos = 0
-               var ipos = length-1
-               while pos < length do
-                       native[pos] = items[ipos]
-                       pos += 1
-                       ipos -= 1
-               end
-               return native.to_s_with_length(self.length)
-       end
-
-       redef fun fast_cstring do return items.fast_cstring(index_from)
-
-       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 new_from = index_from + from
-
-               if (new_from + count) > index_to then
-                       var new_len = index_to - new_from + 1
-                       if new_len <= 0 then return empty
-                       return new FlatString.with_infos(items, new_len, new_from, index_to)
-               end
-
-               if count <= 0 then return empty
-
-               var to = new_from + count - 1
-
-               return new FlatString.with_infos(items, to - new_from + 1, new_from, to)
-       end
-
-       redef fun empty do return "".as(FlatString)
-
-       redef fun to_upper
-       do
-               var outstr = new NativeString(self.length + 1)
-               var out_index = 0
-
-               var myitems = self.items
-               var index_from = self.index_from
-               var max = self.index_to
-
-               while index_from <= max do
-                       outstr[out_index] = myitems[index_from].to_upper
-                       out_index += 1
-                       index_from += 1
-               end
-
-               outstr[self.length] = '\0'
-
-               return outstr.to_s_with_length(self.length)
-       end
-
-       redef fun to_lower
-       do
-               var outstr = new NativeString(self.length + 1)
-               var out_index = 0
-
-               var myitems = self.items
-               var index_from = self.index_from
-               var max = self.index_to
-
-               while index_from <= max do
-                       outstr[out_index] = myitems[index_from].to_lower
-                       out_index += 1
-                       index_from += 1
-               end
-
-               outstr[self.length] = '\0'
-
-               return outstr.to_s_with_length(self.length)
-       end
-
-       redef fun output
-       do
-               var i = self.index_from
-               var imax = self.index_to
-               while i <= imax do
-                       items[i].output
-                       i += 1
-               end
-       end
-
-       ##################################################
-       #              String Specific Methods           #
-       ##################################################
-
-       # Low-level creation of a new string with given data.
-       #
-       # `items` will be used as is, without copy, to retrieve the characters of the string.
-       # Aliasing issues is the responsibility of the caller.
-       private init with_infos(items: NativeString, length: Int, from: Int, to: Int)
-       do
-               self.items = items
-               self.length = length
-               index_from = from
-               index_to = to
-       end
-
-       redef fun to_cstring do
-               if real_items != null then
-                       return real_items.as(not null)
-               else
-                       var newItems = new NativeString(length + 1)
-                       self.items.copy_to(newItems, length, index_from, 0)
-                       newItems[length] = '\0'
-                       self.real_items = newItems
-                       return newItems
-               end
-       end
-
-       redef fun ==(other)
-       do
-               if not other isa FlatString then return super
-
-               if self.object_id == other.object_id then return true
-
-               var my_length = length
-
-               if other.length != my_length then return false
-
-               var my_index = index_from
-               var its_index = other.index_from
-
-               var last_iteration = my_index + my_length
-
-               var itsitems = other.items
-               var myitems = self.items
-
-               while my_index < last_iteration do
-                       if myitems[my_index] != itsitems[its_index] then return false
-                       my_index += 1
-                       its_index += 1
-               end
-
-               return true
-       end
-
-       redef fun <(other)
-       do
-               if not other isa FlatString then return super
-
-               if self.object_id == other.object_id then return false
-
-               var my_curr_char : Char
-               var its_curr_char : Char
-
-               var curr_id_self = self.index_from
-               var curr_id_other = other.index_from
-
-               var my_items = self.items
-               var its_items = other.items
-
-               var my_length = self.length
-               var its_length = other.length
-
-               var max_iterations = curr_id_self + my_length
-
-               while curr_id_self < max_iterations do
-                       my_curr_char = my_items[curr_id_self]
-                       its_curr_char = its_items[curr_id_other]
-
-                       if my_curr_char != its_curr_char then
-                               if my_curr_char < its_curr_char then return true
-                               return false
-                       end
-
-                       curr_id_self += 1
-                       curr_id_other += 1
-               end
-
-               return my_length < its_length
-       end
-
-       redef fun +(s)
-       do
-               var my_length = self.length
-               var its_length = s.length
-
-               var total_length = my_length + its_length
-
-               var target_string = new NativeString(my_length + its_length + 1)
-
-               self.items.copy_to(target_string, my_length, index_from, 0)
-               if s isa FlatString then
-                       s.items.copy_to(target_string, its_length, s.index_from, my_length)
-               else if s isa FlatBuffer then
-                       s.items.copy_to(target_string, its_length, 0, my_length)
-               else
-                       var curr_pos = my_length
-                       for i in [0..s.length[ do
-                               var c = s.chars[i]
-                               target_string[curr_pos] = c
-                               curr_pos += 1
-                       end
-               end
-
-               target_string[total_length] = '\0'
-
-               return target_string.to_s_with_length(total_length)
-       end
-
-       redef fun *(i)
-       do
-               assert i >= 0
-
-               var my_length = self.length
-
-               var final_length = my_length * i
-
-               var my_items = self.items
-
-               var target_string = new NativeString(final_length + 1)
-
-               target_string[final_length] = '\0'
-
-               var current_last = 0
-
-               for iteration in [1 .. i] do
-                       my_items.copy_to(target_string, my_length, 0, current_last)
-                       current_last += my_length
-               end
-
-               return target_string.to_s_with_length(final_length)
-       end
-
-       redef fun hash
-       do
-               if hash_cache == null then
-                       # djb2 hash algorithm
-                       var h = 5381
-                       var i = index_from
-
-                       var myitems = items
-
-                       while i <= index_to do
-                               h = h.lshift(5) + h + myitems[i].ascii
-                               i += 1
-                       end
-
-                       hash_cache = h
-               end
-
-               return hash_cache.as(not null)
-       end
-
-       redef fun substrings do return new FlatSubstringsIter(self)
-end
-
-private class FlatStringReverseIterator
-       super IndexedIterator[Char]
-
-       var target: FlatString
-
-       var target_items: NativeString
-
-       var curr_pos: Int
-
-       init with_pos(tgt: FlatString, pos: Int)
-       do
-               target = tgt
-               target_items = tgt.items
-               curr_pos = pos + tgt.index_from
-       end
-
-       redef fun is_ok do return curr_pos >= target.index_from
-
-       redef fun item do return target_items[curr_pos]
-
-       redef fun next do curr_pos -= 1
-
-       redef fun index do return curr_pos - target.index_from
-
-end
-
-private class FlatStringIterator
-       super IndexedIterator[Char]
-
-       var target: FlatString
-
-       var target_items: NativeString
-
-       var curr_pos: Int
-
-       init with_pos(tgt: FlatString, pos: Int)
-       do
-               target = tgt
-               target_items = tgt.items
-               curr_pos = pos + target.index_from
-       end
-
-       redef fun is_ok do return curr_pos <= target.index_to
-
-       redef fun item do return target_items[curr_pos]
-
-       redef fun next do curr_pos += 1
-
-       redef fun index do return curr_pos - target.index_from
-
-end
-
-private class FlatStringCharView
-       super StringCharView
-
-       redef type SELFTYPE: FlatString
-
-       redef fun [](index)
-       do
-               # Check that the index (+ index_from) is not larger than indexTo
-               # In other terms, if the index is valid
-               assert index >= 0
-               var target = self.target
-               assert (index + target.index_from) <= target.index_to
-               return target.items[index + target.index_from]
-       end
-
-       redef fun iterator_from(start) do return new FlatStringIterator.with_pos(target, start)
-
-       redef fun reverse_iterator_from(start) do return new FlatStringReverseIterator.with_pos(target, start)
-
-end
-
-# A mutable sequence of characters.
-abstract class Buffer
-       super Text
-
-       # New `Buffer` factory, will return a concrete `Buffer` type with default capacity
-       new do return new FlatBuffer
-
-       # New `Buffer` factory, returns a concrete `Buffer` with a capacity of `i`
-       new with_cap(i: Int) do return new FlatBuffer.with_capacity(i)
-
-       redef type SELFTYPE: Buffer is fixed
-
-       # Specific implementations MUST set this to `true` in order to invalidate caches
-       protected var is_dirty = true
-
-       # Copy-On-Write flag
-       #
-       # If the `Buffer` was to_s'd, the next in-place altering
-       # operation will cause the current `Buffer` to be re-allocated.
-       #
-       # The flag will then be set at `false`.
-       protected var written = false
-
-       # Modifies the char contained at pos `index`
-       #
-       # DEPRECATED : Use self.chars.[]= instead
-       fun []=(index: Int, item: Char) is abstract
-
-       # Adds a char `c` at the end of self
-       #
-       # DEPRECATED : Use self.chars.add instead
-       fun add(c: Char) is abstract
-
-       # Clears the buffer
-       #
-       #     var b = new Buffer
-       #     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 Buffer
-       #     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 Buffer
-       #     b.append "hello"
-       #     b.times 3
-       #     assert b == "hellohellohello"
-       fun times(r: Int) is abstract
-
-       # Reverses itself in-place
-       #
-       #     var b = new Buffer
-       #     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 Buffer
-       #     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 Buffer
-       #     b.append("Hello World!")
-       #     b.lower
-       #     assert b == "hello world!"
-       fun lower is abstract
-
-       # Capitalizes each word in `self`
-       #
-       # Letters that follow a letter are lowercased
-       # Letters that follow a non-letter are upcased.
-       #
-       # SEE: `Char::is_letter` for the definition of a letter.
-       #
-       #     var b = new FlatBuffer.from("jAVAsCriPt")
-       #     b.capitalize
-       #     assert b == "Javascript"
-       #     b = new FlatBuffer.from("i am root")
-       #     b.capitalize
-       #     assert b == "I Am Root"
-       #     b = new FlatBuffer.from("ab_c -ab0c ab\nc")
-       #     b.capitalize
-       #     assert b == "Ab_C -Ab0C Ab\nC"
-       fun capitalize do
-               if length == 0 then return
-               var c = self[0].to_upper
-               self[0] = c
-               var prev = c
-               for i in [1 .. length[ do
-                       prev = c
-                       c = self[i]
-                       if prev.is_letter then
-                               self[i] = c.to_lower
-                       else
-                               self[i] = c.to_upper
-                       end
-               end
-       end
-
-       redef fun hash
-       do
-               if is_dirty then hash_cache = null
-               return super
-       end
-
-       # In Buffers, the internal sequence of character is mutable
-       # Thus, `chars` can be used to modify the buffer.
-       redef fun chars: Sequence[Char] is abstract
-end
-
-# Mutable strings of characters.
-class FlatBuffer
-       super FlatText
-       super Buffer
-
-       redef var chars: Sequence[Char] = new FlatBufferCharView(self) is lazy
-
-       private var capacity: Int = 0
-
-       redef fun fast_cstring do return items.fast_cstring(0)
-
-       redef fun substrings do return new FlatSubstringsIter(self)
-
-       # Re-copies the `NativeString` into a new one and sets it as the new `Buffer`
-       #
-       # This happens when an operation modifies the current `Buffer` and
-       # the Copy-On-Write flag `written` is set at true.
-       private fun reset do
-               var nns = new NativeString(capacity)
-               items.copy_to(nns, length, 0, 0)
-               items = nns
-               written = false
-       end
-
-       redef fun [](index)
-       do
-               assert index >= 0
-               assert index  < length
-               return items[index]
-       end
-
-       redef fun []=(index, item)
-       do
-               is_dirty = true
-               if index == length then
-                       add(item)
-                       return
-               end
-               if written then reset
-               assert index >= 0 and index < length
-               items[index] = item
-       end
-
-       redef fun add(c)
-       do
-               is_dirty = true
-               if capacity <= length then enlarge(length + 5)
-               items[length] = c
-               length += 1
-       end
-
-       redef fun clear do
-               is_dirty = true
-               if written then reset
-               length = 0
-       end
-
-       redef fun empty do return new Buffer
-
-       redef fun enlarge(cap)
-       do
-               var c = capacity
-               if cap <= c then return
-               while c <= cap do c = c * 2 + 2
-               # The COW flag can be set at false here, since
-               # it does a copy of the current `Buffer`
-               written = false
-               var a = new NativeString(c+1)
-               if length > 0 then items.copy_to(a, length, 0, 0)
-               items = a
-               capacity = c
-       end
-
-       redef fun to_s do
-               written = true
-               if length == 0 then items = new NativeString(1)
-               return new FlatString.with_infos(items, length, 0, length - 1)
-       end
-
-       redef fun to_cstring
-       do
-               if is_dirty then
-                       var new_native = new NativeString(length + 1)
-                       new_native[length] = '\0'
-                       if length > 0 then items.copy_to(new_native, length, 0, 0)
-                       real_items = new_native
-                       is_dirty = false
-               end
-               return real_items.as(not null)
-       end
-
-       # Create a new empty string.
-       init do end
-
-       # Low-level creation a new buffer with given data.
-       #
-       # `items` will be used as is, without copy, to store the characters of the buffer.
-       # Aliasing issues is the responsibility of the caller.
-       #
-       # If `items` is shared, `written` should be set to true after the creation
-       # so that a modification will do a copy-on-write.
-       private init with_infos(items: NativeString, capacity, length: Int)
-       do
-               self.items = items
-               self.length = length
-               self.capacity = capacity
-       end
-
-       # Create a new string copied from `s`.
-       init from(s: Text)
-       do
-               capacity = s.length + 1
-               length = s.length
-               items = new NativeString(capacity)
-               if s isa FlatString then
-                       s.items.copy_to(items, length, s.index_from, 0)
-               else if s isa FlatBuffer then
-                       s.items.copy_to(items, length, 0, 0)
-               else
-                       var curr_pos = 0
-                       for i in [0..s.length[ do
-                               var c = s.chars[i]
-                               items[curr_pos] = c
-                               curr_pos += 1
-                       end
-               end
-       end
-
-       # Create a new empty string with a given capacity.
-       init with_capacity(cap: Int)
-       do
-               assert cap >= 0
-               items = new NativeString(cap+1)
-               capacity = cap
-               length = 0
-       end
-
-       redef fun append(s)
-       do
-               if s.is_empty then return
-               is_dirty = true
-               var sl = s.length
-               if capacity < length + sl then enlarge(length + sl)
-               if s isa FlatString then
-                       s.items.copy_to(items, sl, s.index_from, length)
-               else if s isa FlatBuffer then
-                       s.items.copy_to(items, sl, 0, length)
-               else
-                       var curr_pos = self.length
-                       for i in [0..s.length[ do
-                               var c = s.chars[i]
-                               items[curr_pos] = c
-                               curr_pos += 1
-                       end
-               end
-               length += sl
-       end
-
-       # Copies the content of self in `dest`
-       fun copy(start: Int, len: Int, dest: Buffer, new_start: Int)
-       do
-               var self_chars = self.chars
-               var dest_chars = dest.chars
-               for i in [0..len-1] do
-                       dest_chars[new_start+i] = self_chars[start+i]
-               end
-       end
-
-       redef fun substring(from, count)
-       do
-               assert count >= 0
-               count += from
-               if from < 0 then from = 0
-               if count > length then count = length
-               if from < count then
-                       var len = count - from
-                       var r_items = new NativeString(len)
-                       items.copy_to(r_items, len, from, 0)
-                       var r = new FlatBuffer.with_infos(r_items, len, len)
-                       return r
-               else
-                       return new Buffer
-               end
-       end
-
-       redef fun reverse
-       do
-               written = false
-               var ns = new NativeString(capacity)
-               var si = length - 1
-               var ni = 0
-               var it = items
-               while si >= 0 do
-                       ns[ni] = it[si]
-                       ni += 1
-                       si -= 1
-               end
-               items = ns
-       end
-
-       redef fun times(repeats)
-       do
-               var x = new FlatString.with_infos(items, length, 0, length - 1)
-               for i in [1..repeats[ do
-                       append(x)
-               end
-       end
-
-       redef fun upper
-       do
-               if written then reset
-               var it = items
-               var id = length - 1
-               while id >= 0 do
-                       it[id] = it[id].to_upper
-                       id -= 1
-               end
-       end
-
-       redef fun lower
-       do
-               if written then reset
-               var it = items
-               var id = length - 1
-               while id >= 0 do
-                       it[id] = it[id].to_lower
-                       id -= 1
-               end
-       end
-end
-
-private class FlatBufferReverseIterator
-       super IndexedIterator[Char]
-
-       var target: FlatBuffer
-
-       var target_items: NativeString
-
-       var curr_pos: Int
-
-       init with_pos(tgt: FlatBuffer, pos: Int)
-       do
-               target = tgt
-               if tgt.length > 0 then target_items = tgt.items
-               curr_pos = pos
-       end
-
-       redef fun index do return curr_pos
-
-       redef fun is_ok do return curr_pos >= 0
-
-       redef fun item do return target_items[curr_pos]
-
-       redef fun next do curr_pos -= 1
-
-end
-
-private class FlatBufferCharView
-       super BufferCharView
-
-       redef type SELFTYPE: FlatBuffer
-
-       redef fun [](index) do return target.items[index]
-
-       redef fun []=(index, item)
-       do
-               assert index >= 0 and index <= length
-               if index == length then
-                       add(item)
-                       return
-               end
-               target.items[index] = item
-       end
-
-       redef fun push(c)
-       do
-               target.add(c)
-       end
-
-       redef fun add(c)
-       do
-               target.add(c)
-       end
-
-       fun enlarge(cap: Int)
-       do
-               target.enlarge(cap)
-       end
-
-       redef fun append(s)
-       do
-               var s_length = s.length
-               if target.capacity < s.length then enlarge(s_length + target.length)
-       end
-
-       redef fun iterator_from(pos) do return new FlatBufferIterator.with_pos(target, pos)
-
-       redef fun reverse_iterator_from(pos) do return new FlatBufferReverseIterator.with_pos(target, pos)
-
-end
-
-private class FlatBufferIterator
-       super IndexedIterator[Char]
-
-       var target: FlatBuffer
-
-       var target_items: NativeString
-
-       var curr_pos: Int
-
-       init with_pos(tgt: FlatBuffer, pos: Int)
-       do
-               target = tgt
-               if tgt.length > 0 then target_items = tgt.items
-               curr_pos = pos
-       end
-
-       redef fun index do return curr_pos
-
-       redef fun is_ok do return curr_pos < target.length
-
-       redef fun item do return target_items[curr_pos]
-
-       redef fun next do curr_pos += 1
-
-end
-
-###############################################################################
-# Refinement                                                                  #
-###############################################################################
-
-redef class Object
-       # User readable representation of `self`.
-       fun to_s: String do return inspect
-
-       # The class name of the object in NativeString format.
-       private fun native_class_name: NativeString is intern
-
-       # The class name of the object.
-       #
-       #     assert 5.class_name == "Int"
-       fun class_name: String do return native_class_name.to_s
-
-       # Developer readable representation of `self`.
-       # Usually, it uses the form "<CLASSNAME:#OBJECTID bla bla bla>"
-       fun inspect: String
-       do
-               return "<{inspect_head}>"
-       end
-
-       # Return "CLASSNAME:#OBJECTID".
-       # This function is mainly used with the redefinition of the inspect method
-       protected fun inspect_head: String
-       do
-               return "{class_name}:#{object_id.to_hex}"
-       end
-end
-
-redef class Bool
-       #     assert true.to_s         == "true"
-       #     assert false.to_s        == "false"
-       redef fun to_s
-       do
-               if self then
-                       return once "true"
-               else
-                       return once "false"
-               end
-       end
-end
-
-redef class Byte
-       # C function to calculate the length of the `NativeString` to receive `self`
-       private fun byte_to_s_len: Int is extern "native_byte_length_str"
-
-       # C function to convert an nit Int to a NativeString (char*)
-       private fun native_byte_to_s(nstr: NativeString, strlen: Int) is extern "native_byte_to_s"
-
-       # Displayable byte in its hexadecimal form (0x..)
-       #
-       #     assert 1.to_b.to_s       == "0x01"
-       #     assert (-123).to_b.to_s  == "0x85"
-       redef fun to_s do
-               var nslen = byte_to_s_len
-               var ns = new NativeString(nslen + 1)
-               ns[nslen] = '\0'
-               native_byte_to_s(ns, nslen + 1)
-               return ns.to_s_with_length(nslen)
-       end
-end
-
-redef class Int
-
-       # Wrapper of strerror C function
-       private fun strerror_ext: NativeString is extern "strerror"
-
-       # Returns a string describing error number
-       fun strerror: String do return strerror_ext.to_s
-
-       # Fill `s` with the digits in base `base` of `self` (and with the '-' sign if 'signed' and negative).
-       # assume < to_c max const of char
-       private fun fill_buffer(s: Buffer, base: Int, signed: Bool)
-       do
-               var n: Int
-               # Sign
-               if self < 0 then
-                       n = - self
-                       s.chars[0] = '-'
-               else if self == 0 then
-                       s.chars[0] = '0'
-                       return
-               else
-                       n = self
-               end
-               # Fill digits
-               var pos = digit_count(base) - 1
-               while pos >= 0 and n > 0 do
-                       s.chars[pos] = (n % base).to_c
-                       n = n / base # /
-                       pos -= 1
-               end
-       end
-
-       # C function to calculate the length of the `NativeString` to receive `self`
-       private fun int_to_s_len: Int is extern "native_int_length_str"
-
-       # C function to convert an nit Int to a NativeString (char*)
-       private fun native_int_to_s(nstr: NativeString, strlen: Int) 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
-               # Fast case for common numbers
-               if self == 0 then return "0"
-               if self == 1 then return "1"
-
-               var nslen = int_to_s_len
-               var ns = new NativeString(nslen + 1)
-               ns[nslen] = '\0'
-               native_int_to_s(ns, nslen + 1)
-               return ns.to_s_with_length(nslen)
-       end
-
-       # return displayable int in hexadecimal
-       #
-       #     assert 1.to_hex  == "1"
-       #     assert (-255).to_hex  == "-ff"
-       fun to_hex: String do return to_base(16,false)
-
-       # return displayable int in base base and signed
-       fun to_base(base: Int, signed: Bool): String
-       do
-               var l = digit_count(base)
-               var s = new FlatBuffer.from(" " * l)
-               fill_buffer(s, base, signed)
-               return s.to_s
-       end
-end
-
-redef class Float
-       # Pretty representation of `self`, with decimals as needed from 1 to a maximum of 3
-       #
-       #     assert 12.34.to_s       == "12.34"
-       #     assert (-0120.030).to_s == "-120.03"
-       #
-       # see `to_precision` for a custom precision.
-       redef fun to_s do
-               var str = to_precision( 3 )
-               if is_inf != 0 or is_nan then return str
-               var len = str.length
-               for i in [0..len-1] do
-                       var j = len-1-i
-                       var c = str.chars[j]
-                       if c == '0' then
-                               continue
-                       else if c == '.' then
-                               return str.substring( 0, j+2 )
-                       else
-                               return str.substring( 0, j+1 )
-                       end
-               end
-               return str
-       end
-
-       # `String` representation of `self` with the given number of `decimals`
-       #
-       #     assert 12.345.to_precision(0)    == "12"
-       #     assert 12.345.to_precision(3)    == "12.345"
-       #     assert (-12.345).to_precision(3) == "-12.345"
-       #     assert (-0.123).to_precision(3)  == "-0.123"
-       #     assert 0.999.to_precision(2)     == "1.00"
-       #     assert 0.999.to_precision(4)     == "0.9990"
-       fun to_precision(decimals: Int): String
-       do
-               if is_nan then return "nan"
-
-               var isinf = self.is_inf
-               if isinf == 1 then
-                       return "inf"
-               else if isinf == -1 then
-                       return  "-inf"
-               end
-
-               if decimals == 0 then return self.to_i.to_s
-               var f = self
-               for i in [0..decimals[ do f = f * 10.0
-               if self > 0.0 then
-                       f = f + 0.5
-               else
-                       f = f - 0.5
-               end
-               var i = f.to_i
-               if i == 0 then return "0." + "0"*decimals
-
-               # Prepare both parts of the float, before and after the "."
-               var s = i.abs.to_s
-               var sl = s.length
-               var p1
-               var p2
-               if sl > decimals then
-                       # Has something before the "."
-                       p1 = s.substring(0, sl-decimals)
-                       p2 = s.substring(sl-decimals, decimals)
-               else
-                       p1 = "0"
-                       p2 = "0"*(decimals-sl) + s
-               end
-
-               if i < 0 then p1 = "-" + p1
-
-               return p1 + "." + p2
-       end
-end
-
-redef class Char
-       #     assert 'x'.to_s    == "x"
-       redef fun to_s
-       do
-               var s = new Buffer.with_cap(1)
-               s.chars[0] = self
-               return s.to_s
-       end
-
-       # Returns true if the char is a numerical digit
-       #
-       #     assert '0'.is_numeric
-       #     assert '9'.is_numeric
-       #     assert not 'a'.is_numeric
-       #     assert not '?'.is_numeric
-       fun is_numeric: Bool
-       do
-               return self >= '0' and self <= '9'
-       end
-
-       # Returns true if the char is an alpha digit
-       #
-       #     assert 'a'.is_alpha
-       #     assert 'Z'.is_alpha
-       #     assert not '0'.is_alpha
-       #     assert not '?'.is_alpha
-       fun is_alpha: Bool
-       do
-               return (self >= 'a' and self <= 'z') or (self >= 'A' and self <= 'Z')
-       end
-
-       # Returns true if the char is an alpha or a numeric digit
-       #
-       #     assert 'a'.is_alphanumeric
-       #     assert 'Z'.is_alphanumeric
-       #     assert '0'.is_alphanumeric
-       #     assert '9'.is_alphanumeric
-       #     assert not '?'.is_alphanumeric
-       fun is_alphanumeric: Bool
-       do
-               return self.is_numeric or self.is_alpha
-       end
-end
-
-redef class Collection[E]
-       # Concatenate elements.
-       redef fun to_s
-       do
-               return plain_to_s
-       end
-
-       # Concatenate element without separators
-       fun plain_to_s: String
-       do
-               var s = new Buffer
-               for e in self do if e != null then s.append(e.to_s)
-               return s.to_s
-       end
-
-       # Concatenate and separate each elements with `sep`.
-       #
-       #     assert [1, 2, 3].join(":")         == "1:2:3"
-       #     assert [1..3].join(":")            == "1:2:3"
-       fun join(sep: Text): String
-       do
-               if is_empty then return ""
-
-               var s = new Buffer # 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 plain_to_s
-       do
-               var l = length
-               if l == 0 then return ""
-               if l == 1 then if self[0] == null then return "" else return self[0].to_s
-               var its = _items
-               var na = new NativeArray[String](l)
-               var i = 0
-               var sl = 0
-               var mypos = 0
-               while i < l do
-                       var itsi = its[i]
-                       if itsi == null then
-                               i += 1
-                               continue
-                       end
-                       var tmp = itsi.to_s
-                       sl += tmp.length
-                       na[mypos] = tmp
-                       i += 1
-                       mypos += 1
-               end
-               var ns = new NativeString(sl + 1)
-               ns[sl] = '\0'
-               i = 0
-               var off = 0
-               while i < mypos do
-                       var tmp = na[i]
-                       var tpl = tmp.length
-                       if tmp isa FlatString then
-                               tmp.items.copy_to(ns, tpl, tmp.index_from, off)
-                               off += tpl
-                       else
-                               for j in tmp.substrings do
-                                       var s = j.as(FlatString)
-                                       var slen = s.length
-                                       s.items.copy_to(ns, slen, s.index_from, off)
-                                       off += slen
-                               end
-                       end
-                       i += 1
-               end
-               return ns.to_s_with_length(sl)
-       end
-end
-
-redef class NativeArray[E]
-       # Join all the elements using `to_s`
-       #
-       # REQUIRE: `self isa NativeArray[String]`
-       # REQUIRE: all elements are initialized
-       fun native_to_s: String
-       do
-               assert self isa NativeArray[String]
-               var l = length
-               var na = self
-               var i = 0
-               var sl = 0
-               var mypos = 0
-               while i < l do
-                       sl += na[i].length
-                       i += 1
-                       mypos += 1
-               end
-               var ns = new NativeString(sl + 1)
-               ns[sl] = '\0'
-               i = 0
-               var off = 0
-               while i < mypos do
-                       var tmp = na[i]
-                       var tpl = tmp.length
-                       if tmp isa FlatString then
-                               tmp.items.copy_to(ns, tpl, tmp.index_from, off)
-                               off += tpl
-                       else
-                               for j in tmp.substrings do
-                                       var s = j.as(FlatString)
-                                       var slen = s.length
-                                       s.items.copy_to(ns, slen, s.index_from, off)
-                                       off += slen
-                               end
-                       end
-                       i += 1
-               end
-               return ns.to_s_with_length(sl)
-       end
-end
-
-redef class Map[K,V]
-       # Concatenate couple of 'key value'.
-       # key and value are separated by `couple_sep`.
-       # each couple is separated each couple with `sep`.
-       #
-       #     var m = new ArrayMap[Int, String]
-       #     m[1] = "one"
-       #     m[10] = "ten"
-       #     assert m.join("; ", "=") == "1=one; 10=ten"
-       fun join(sep: String, couple_sep: String): String
-       do
-               if is_empty then return ""
-
-               var s = new Buffer # Result
-
-               # Concat first item
-               var i = iterator
-               var k = i.key
-               var e = i.item
-               s.append("{k or else "<null>"}{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 or else "<null>"}{couple_sep}{e or else "<null>"}")
-                       i.next
-               end
-               return s.to_s
-       end
-end
-
-###############################################################################
-# Native classes                                                              #
-###############################################################################
-
-# Native strings are simple C char *
-extern class NativeString `{ char* `}
-       # Creates a new NativeString with a capacity of `length`
-       new(length: Int) is intern
-
-       # Returns a char* starting at `index`.
-       #
-       # WARNING: Unsafe for extern code, use only for temporary
-       # pointer manipulation purposes (e.g. write to file or such)
-       fun fast_cstring(index: Int): NativeString is intern
-
-       # Get char at `index`.
-       fun [](index: Int): Char is intern
-
-       # Set char `item` at index.
-       fun []=(index: Int, item: Char) is intern
-
-       # Copy `self` to `dest`.
-       fun copy_to(dest: NativeString, length: Int, from: Int, to: Int) is intern
-
-       # Position of the first nul character.
-       fun cstring_length: Int
-       do
-               var l = 0
-               while self[l] != '\0' do l += 1
-               return l
-       end
-
-       # Parse `self` as an Int.
-       fun atoi: Int is intern
-
-       # Parse `self` as a Float.
-       fun atof: Float is extern "atof"
-
-       redef fun to_s
-       do
-               return to_s_with_length(cstring_length)
-       end
-
-       # Returns `self` as a String of `length`.
-       fun to_s_with_length(length: Int): FlatString
-       do
-               assert length >= 0
-               var str = new FlatString.with_infos(self, length, 0, length - 1)
-               return str
-       end
-
-       # Returns `self` as a new String.
-       fun to_s_with_copy: FlatString
-       do
-               var length = cstring_length
-               var new_self = new NativeString(length + 1)
-               copy_to(new_self, length, 0, 0)
-               var str = new FlatString.with_infos(new_self, length, 0, length - 1)
-               new_self[length] = '\0'
-               str.real_items = new_self
-               return str
-       end
-end
-
-redef class Sys
-       private var args_cache: nullable Sequence[String] = null
-
-       # The arguments of the program as given by the OS
-       fun program_args: Sequence[String]
-       do
-               if _args_cache == null then init_args
-               return _args_cache.as(not null)
-       end
-
-       # The name of the program as given by the OS
-       fun program_name: String
-       do
-               return native_argv(0).to_s
-       end
-
-       # Initialize `program_args` with the contents of `native_argc` and `native_argv`.
-       private fun init_args
-       do
-               var argc = native_argc
-               var args = new Array[String].with_capacity(0)
-               var i = 1
-               while i < argc do
-                       args[i-1] = native_argv(i).to_s
-                       i += 1
-               end
-               _args_cache = args
-       end
-
-       # First argument of the main C function.
-       private fun native_argc: Int is intern
-
-       # Second argument of the main C function.
-       private fun native_argv(i: Int): NativeString is intern
-end
-
-# Comparator that efficienlty use `to_s` to compare things
-#
-# The comparaison call `to_s` on object and use the result to order things.
-#
-#     var a = [1, 2, 3, 10, 20]
-#     (new CachedAlphaComparator).sort(a)
-#     assert a == [1, 10, 2, 20, 3]
-#
-# Internally the result of `to_s` is cached in a HashMap to counter
-# uneficient implementation of `to_s`.
-#
-# Note: it caching is not usefull, see `alpha_comparator`
-class CachedAlphaComparator
-       super Comparator
-       redef type COMPARED: Object
-
-       private var cache = new HashMap[Object, String]
-
-       private fun do_to_s(a: Object): String do
-               if cache.has_key(a) then return cache[a]
-               var res = a.to_s
-               cache[a] = res
-               return res
-       end
-
-       redef fun compare(a, b) do
-               return do_to_s(a) <=> do_to_s(b)
-       end
-end
-
-# see `alpha_comparator`
-private class AlphaComparator
-       super Comparator
-       redef fun compare(a, b) do return a.to_s <=> b.to_s
-end
-
-# Stateless comparator that naively use `to_s` to compare things.
-#
-# Note: the result of `to_s` is not cached, thus can be invoked a lot
-# on a single instace. See `CachedAlphaComparator` as an alternative.
-#
-#     var a = [1, 2, 3, 10, 20]
-#     alpha_comparator.sort(a)
-#     assert a == [1, 10, 2, 20, 3]
-fun alpha_comparator: Comparator do return once new AlphaComparator
-
-# The arguments of the program as given by the OS
-fun args: Sequence[String]
-do
-       return sys.program_args
-end