Variables and Functions

Variables

Our ducks tend to think of variables as "eggs" that are given names and contain some form of data with a specific type (either a string, number, or boolean). You can find more quacks about data types and expression evaluation here.

VAR counter 0
REM a variable named "counter" now equals 0

VAR switch TRUE
REM a variable named "switch" is now TRUE
REM (Make sure that TRUE is in all caps)

Functions

Another feature of many other languages we've re-quacked for DucklingScript is the Functions, these fancy code blocks let you run the same bits of code as many times as you want, wherever you want, and even let you control the variables inside!

You can ruffle up new functions using either the FUNC or FUNCTION command along with a name and any parameters you want to have separated by a comma.

To have the ducks use your new function you can simply use the RUN command with the name of the function and the value of any parameters separated by a comma in the same order as you put them when creating the function.

Basic Usage

DucklingScript

FUNC hello
    STRING Hello Pond!

RUN hello
STRING I like birdseed!
RUN hello

Compiled

STRING Hello Pond!
STRING I like birdseed!
STRING Hello Pond!

Using Paramaters

DucklingScript

FUNC hello phrase,number
    $STRING "The number given was: " + number
    $STRING phrase

RUN hello "Ducks rule!",10

Compiled

STRING The number given was: 10
STRING Ducks rule!

If you'd like the ducks to stop reading a function early, such as if a certain condition is met, you can stop the function and return early with the RETURN command.

DucklingScript

FUNC hello 
 STRING Hello!
 RETURN
 REM This does not run.
 STRING Goodbye!

RUN hello

Compiled

STRING Hello!

tip

Along with getting out of functions, our ducks can also identify the RETURN command as a way of quitting the script early so make sure you use it in the right context!