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Parrot Virtual Machine/Built-In PMCs

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Parrot Virtual Machine

Built-in PMCs Edit

Parrot ships with a number of PMC data types built in. This means that these standard types are always available. This page is going to serve as a reference to these PMC types. We will not attempt to cover all the PMC types that are added specifically for other HLLs, libraries, or programs. (For information on using these PMC types, and on defining new PMC types, see the Parrot Virtual Machine/Polymorphic Containers (PMCs) chapter).

The entries in this list should (A) contain a link to the relevant PMC documentation, and (B) provide a brief overview of the PMC and it's methods.

AddrRegistry Edit

Array Edit

A simple array class, serves as the base class for other array PMCs. This type of PMC is rarely used directly. Instead, more versatile array PMC types, such as ResizablePMCArray are used. Array specifies an interface that all other Array classes must share. It also provides a number of defaults that other array-like PMCs may default to.

BigInt Edit

A PMC type for storing an arbitrarily large number, or a number with arbitrary precision. Not currently implemented.

Boolean Edit

A boolean True/False PMC.

Bound_NCI Edit

Capture Edit

Closure Edit

Compiler Edit

A Compiler PMC for a particular language. Can be used to convert an HLL into PIR and eventually into Parrot Bytecode.

Complex Edit

A PMC for Complex numbers.

Continuation Edit

A Continuation PMC allows Parrot to take a snapshot of the current state of the system to return to later.

Coroutine Edit

A sub-like PMC that implements a coroutine.

Default Edit

Deleg_PMC Edit

Delegate Edit

Enumerate Edit

Env Edit

Allows access to the system's environment variables, as a hash.

Eval Edit

Exception Edit

An Exception PMC holds information about system errors for recovery.

Exception_Handler Edit

A sub-like routine that catches and resolves exceptions

Exporter Edit

File Edit

A read/write interface for files

FixedBooleanArray Edit

An array of fixed size of Boolean values.

FixedFloatArray Edit

An array of fixed size for FLOATVAL floating point numbers

FixedPMCArray Edit

An array of fixed size for PMC values

FixedStringArray Edit

An array of fixed size for STRING values

Float Edit

A floating point number PMC. Used similarly to a FLOATVAL, except has methods and vtable methods. FLOATVALs become Float PMCs when they are promoted to become a PMC.

Hash Edit

A hash, also known as a "dictionary" or an "associative array". Like an array but indexed with strings instead of integers

Integer Edit

A basic integer number PMC. Used similarly to an INTVAL, but with methods and vtable methods. INTVALS become Integer PMCs when they are promoted to become a PMC.

IntList Edit

A simple list, or array, of integers.

Iterator Edit

An Iterator PMC provides a stateful counter that enables you to iterate over the items in one of the array classes, one at a time.

Key Edit

A value, typically a string, which is used to look up values in a hash.

LexInfo Edit

LexPad Edit

ManagedStruct Edit

A low-level structure whose memory is allocated and automatically deallocated by Parrot. Extends UnManagedStruct, but adds automatic memory collection.

MultiArray Edit

MultiSub Edit

A collection of subroutines with the same name. In Multiple Method Dispatch (MMD) the parameters of the function called determine which subroutine from the collection to call.

Mutable Edit

Namespace Edit

Implements a Parrot namespace. Contains information about variables, subroutines, coroutines, and MultiSubs that are stored in that namespace.

NCI Edit

A native call function PMC. Stores interface information to a function which has been written in C.

Null Edit

A PMC with a NUL value

Object Edit

OrderedHash Edit

OS Edit

Pair Edit

An association of a Key PMC with a PMC value. Hashes are typically implemented as an array of Pair PMCs

ParrotClass Edit

ParrotInterpreter Edit

An interface to the interpreter structure.

ParrotIO Edit

A read/write interface to the console

ParrotLibrary Edit

A dynamically-loaded library object.

ParrotObject Edit

ParrotRunningThread Edit

ParrotThread Edit

A PMC that stores information about a thread

Pmethod_test Edit

Pointer Edit

Random Edit

Ref Edit

ResizableBooleanArray Edit

A resizable array to store Boolean values

ResizableFloatArray Edit

A resizable array to store floating point values.

ResizableIntegerArray Edit

A resizable array to store integer values

ResizablePMCArray Edit

A resizable array to store PMC values

ResizableStringArray Edit

A resizable array to store Strings

RetContinuation Edit

A return continuation. Like a regular Continuation PMC, but can only be used once. Can be promoted to a Continuation using the Clone vtable method.

Role Edit

An abstract role, or interface, for a class. Specifies actions and properties of a class, but cannot be instantiated

SArray Edit

SharedRef Edit

Slice Edit

SMOP_Attribute Edit

SMOP_Class Edit

STMLog Edit

STMRef Edit

STMVar Edit

String Edit

A PMC to contain a string value. Like a STRING value, but has methods and vtable methods. STRINGS become String PMCs when they are promoted to PMCs.

Sub Edit

A Parrot subroutine. Implements a basic subroutine (using the sub command in PIR), but also serves as a base class for more intricate sub-like classes

Super Edit

A parent PMC class, to support multiple inheritance.

Timer Edit

TQueue Edit

Undef Edit

An undefined PMC with no usable type.

UnamangedStruct Edit

A low-level structure which the programmer must manage manually. Parrot does not automatically collect memory allocated for the struct.

Version Edit

VtableCache Edit

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