.title ASEAWK

== ASEAWK ==
ASE provides an embeddable interpreter of a dialect of the AWK programming language. The language implemented is slightly different from {the version developed by Brian W. Kernighan, http://cm.bell-labs.com/cm/cs/awkbook/index.html} and has been adjusted to the author's preference.

=== User Guide ===

Embedding the interpreter needs one or more header files to be included. 

[[[
* ase/awk/awk.h - exports most of the data types and functions for basic embedding. 
]]]

Two more header files can be included depending on the need.
[[[
* ase/awk/val.h - exports data types and functions to manipulate the AWK values.
* ase/awk/map.h - exports data types and functions to access the named variable holder.
]]]


=== ABC ===

An awk object is created with ase_awk_open. The function requires a set of system primitive functions to be passed.

The object created with ase_awk_open should be destroyed with ase_awk_close when no longer needed.

{{{
	ase_awk_t* awk;

	awk = ase_awk_open ();

	if (ase_awk_parse (awk) == -1)
	{
		/* parse error */
	}
	else
	{
		if (ase_awk_run (awk) == -1)
		{
			/* run-time error */
		}
	}

	ase_awk_close (awk);
}}}

=== Primitive Functions ===

ase_awk_open requires a set of primitive functions to be passed. This set include pointers to the system primitive functions for system dependent operation such as memory allocation, string formatting, etc.

=== Source IO Handler ===

ase_awk_srcio_t

The source code is read in with the source input handler provided. 
The optional source output handler writes the generated source code.

=== External IO Handler ===

ase_awk_extio_t
External IO handlers should be provided to support the AWK's built-in IO facilities.

=== Reference Manual ===
[[[
* {Reference Manual,awk-ref-en.html}
]]]