Data Types

Quark data types typically have analogues in each target language and Quark uses the equivalent type when generating code in the supported languages.

Quark defines the following data types:

bool

Quark bool values are booleans and indicate truthfulness.

Constraints

Boolean values are either true or false. Quark represents these states with the keywords true and false.

[[JMK should I discuss null? It compiles in Quark and evaluates to false in js/python, causes NPEs in Java]]

Generated Code

Booleans are translated in generated code as follows:

Language	Type	Allowed values
Java	Boolean	true|false
Javascript	Boolean	true|false
Python	bool	True|False

byte

Documentation coming soon

Class

Documentation coming soon

Field

Documentation coming soon.

float

Quark float values are floating point numbers.

Constraints

Floating point values in Quark are constrained only by the rules of each generated language.

Generated Code

Floats are translated in generated code as follows:

Language	Type	Allowed Values
Java	Double	-(2-2-52 )·21023 to -2-1074 0 2-1074 to (2-2-52)·21023
Javascript	Number	-253 - 1 to -5*10-324 0 5*10-324 to 253 - 1
Python	float	varies; see sys.float.info

int

Quark ints are integers.

Constraints

Integers in Quark are constrained only by the rules of each generated language.

Generated Code

Integers are translated in generated code as follows:

Language	Type	Allowed Values
Java	Integer	-231 - 1 to 231 - 1
Javascript	Number	-253 - 1 to 253 - 1
Python	int	-231 - 1 to 231 - 1 or -263 - 1 to 263 - 1

integral

The integral type is a base type for all integers. It should not be used directly within Quark code.

List

Quark lists are strongly typed and can contain elements of any other defined data type including other lists and objects.

Constraints

Every element in a list must be the same type of data. For example, you cannot mix strings and floats or floats and objects.

List types are specified as follows when a new List is declared:

List< type >

where type is the type of the list elements.

Lists may be further constrained by the rules of each generated language.

Generated Code

Lists are translated in generated code as follows:

Language	Type	Allowed values
Java	java.util.ArrayList	constrained by definition
Javascript	Array	constrained by definition
Python	_List	constrained by definition

long

Quark longs are long integers.

Constraints

Quark does not permit declaration of long literal values by adding L to the end of an integer.

Long integers may be further constrained by the rules of each generated language.

Generated Code

Long integers are translated in generated code as follows:

Language	Type	Allowed Values
Java	Long	-263 - 1 to 263 - 1
Javascript	Number	-253 - 1 to 253 - 1
Python	int	unlimited

Note: Currently Quark can only handle up to 48bit values. See linkIssue58 for more information.

numerical

The numerical type is a base type for all numbers. It should not be used directly within Quark code.

Map

Quark Maps are sets of key-value pairs. They do not have an inherent order.

Constraints

Quark Maps are strongly typed. Quark supports using any defined type of data in Maps. However, every key in a specific map must be the same type and every value in a specific Map must also be the same type (the keys and values may be different types). Also, Quark expect the values of keys to be immutable. Quark Maps are also constrained by additional rules in each supported language.

Map types are specified as follows when a new Map is declared:

Map< keyType , valueType >

where keyType is the type of the map keys and valueType is the type of the value keys.

Maps may be further constrained by the rules of each generated language.

Generated Code

Maps are translated in generated code as follows:

Language	Type	Allowed values
Java	java.util.HashMap	constrained by definition
Javascript	Map	constrained by definition
Python	_Map	constrained by definition

Object

Quark Objects are objects instantiated from a defined class. Every other type in Quark automatically inherits from Object.

Constraints

Objects in Quark are constrained only by the relevant class definition and by the rules of each generated language.

Generated Code

Objects are translated in generated code as follows:

Language	Type	Allowed values
Java	Object	constrained by definition
Javascript	Object	constrained by definition
Python	object	constrained by definition

short

Documentation coming soon

String

Quark Strings are strings of characters.

Constraints

Strings in Quark are constrained only by the rules of each generated language. Additional variable-specific constraints such as a set of allowed enumerated values are not supported.

Generated Code

Strings are translated in generated code as follows:

Language	Type	Allowed Values
Java	String	Can contain up to 2:sup: 31- 1 characters Can contain any character that can be UTF-16 encoded
Javascript	String	Can contain an unlimited number of characters Can contain any character that can be UTF-16 encoded
Python	str	Can contain an unlimited number of characters Can contain any character that can be UTF-8 encoded

void

Quark voids are used to indicate functions and methods that do not return a value.

Constraints

voids in Quark are constrained only by the rules of each generated language.

Generated Code

voids are translated in generated code as follows:

Language	Type	Allowed values
Java	void	any function without a return value
Javascript	N/A	any function returning undefined
Python	N/A	any function returning None