Cobra (programming language from Cobra Language LLC)

Cobra

Paradigm(s)	Multi-paradigm: object-oriented
Appeared in	2006
Designed by	Chuck Esterbrook
Developer	Cobra Language LLC
Stable release	2010-10-18 (October 18, 2010; 12 months ago (2010-10-18))
Typing discipline	strong, static, dynamic, inferred
Influenced by	Python, Eiffel, C#, Objective-C
OS	Microsoft .NET, Mono
License	MIT
Usual filename extensions	.cobra
Website	http://cobra-language.com/

Cobra is an object-oriented programming language produced by Cobra Language LLC.^[1] Cobra is designed by Chuck Esterbrook, and runs on the Microsoft .NET and Mono platforms.^[2] It is strongly influenced by Python, C#, Eiffel, Objective-C, and other programming languages.^[3] It supports both static and dynamic typing.^[4][5] It has first class support for unit tests and contracts.^[4] It has lambda expressions, closures, list comprehensions and generators.^[6] Cobra provides both rapid development and performance in the same language.^[7]

Cobra is an open-source project; it was released under the MIT License on February 29, 2008.^[8]

Updates are posted to the Cobra news forum with progress on features, fixes, documentation and related projects since the last update.^[9]

Features

• Object-oriented:
  • Namespaces
  • Classes, interfaces, structs, extensions, enumerations
  • Methods, properties, indexers
  • Mixins, extension methods
  • Generics, attributes
• Quality control:
  • Contracts, assertions
  • Unit tests, docstrings
  • Compile-time nil-tracking
• Expressiveness:
  • Static and dynamic binding
  • List, dictionary, and set literals
  • in and implies operator
  • for expressions
  • Slicing
  • Interpolated strings
  • Compile-time type inference
  • Lambdas and closures
• General productivity:
  • Exception handling
  • Postmortem exception report
  • Garbage collection
• Scripting conveniences:
  • Clean syntax
  • Dynamic binding
  • One-step run
  • Shebang line (#!)
• Miscellaneous:
  • Doc tool (cobra -doc)
  • Syntax highlighting tool (cobra -highlight)

Examples

The following examples can be entered into a file and run using cobra <filename>.

Classic Hello world example:

class Hello
    def main
        print 'Hello, World'

Simple class:

class Person
 
    var _name as String
    var _age as int
 
    cue init(name as String, age as int)
        _name, _age = name, age
 
    def toString as String is override
        return 'My name is [_name] and I am [_age] years old'

References

1. ^ "The Cobra Programming Language". Cobra Language LLC. http://cobra-language.com. Retrieved 2010-08-31. 
2. ^ Chuck Esterbrook (Jan 28, 2008) (wmv). Lang.NET Symposium 2008 – The Cobra Programming Language. Microsoft. https://www.facultyresourcecenter.com/curriculum/pfv.aspx?ID=7259. Retrieved 2010-08-31. 
3. ^ Bridgwater, Adrian (5 March 2008). "Cobra takes a bite at open source". ZDNet UK. http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/application-development/2008/03/05/cobra-takes-a-bite-at-open-source-39362140/. Retrieved 2010-08-31. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Neward, Ted (June 2009). "Reaping the Benefits of Cobra". MSDN Magazine. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/dd882513.aspx. 
5. ^ Erickson, Jonathan (April 2008). "Was George Costanza a Computer Programmer?". Dr. Dobb's Journal. http://www.ddj.com/architect/207400254. 
6. ^ Morris, Richard (April 2010). "Chuck Esterbrook: Geek of the Week". simple-talk. http://www.simple-talk.com/opinion/geek-of-the-week/chuck-esterbrook-geek-of-the-week/. 
7. ^ Krill, Paul (Feb 7, 2008). "Cobra language slithering to open source". InfoWorld. http://www.infoworld.com/d/developer-world/cobra-language-slithering-open-source-202. Retrieved 2010-08-31. 
8. ^ "The Cobra Programming Language". Cobra Language LLC. http://cobra-language.com/downloads/source/. Retrieved 2008-02-29. 
9. ^ Cobra News Forum

See also

• Cobra (programming language from Squeaky Duck)

External links

• Official website
• The Cobra blog by Chuck Esterbrook
• Cobra News Index