Phaser Language Documentation

This directory contains the official documentation for the Phaser programming language, focusing on language design, features, and usage patterns.

📋 Language Specification

Core Design

• Design Principles - Fundamental principles guiding Phaser’s design philosophy
• Grammar Specification - Complete EBNF grammar defining Phaser’s syntax
• Metaprogramming model - Compile-time metaprogramming capabilities and WASM sandbox architecture

Programming Guide

• Language Examples - Comprehensive examples demonstrating Phaser syntax and features
• Code Organization - Recommended patterns for structuring Phaser programs

🎯 Document Purpose

Language Specification

Documents that define what Phaser is and how it works:

• Grammar and Syntax: Formal definition of valid Phaser code
• Type System: How types work, inference, and safety guarantees
• Metaprogramming: Compile-time code generation and evaluation
• Memory Model: Ownership, borrowing, and lifetime management

Programming Patterns

Documents that show how to use Phaser effectively:

• Code Organization: Module system, project structure, compilation units
• Best Practices: Idiomatic patterns and recommended approaches
• Examples: Real-world code demonstrating language features
• Error Handling: Patterns for robust error management

Design Philosophy

Documents that explain why Phaser is designed the way it is:

• Design Principles: Core values and trade-offs
• Comparison: How Phaser relates to other languages
• Evolution: Future direction and planned features

🚀 Getting Started

For Language Learners

1. Design Principles - Understand Phaser’s philosophy
2. Language Examples - See practical code examples
3. Grammar Specification - Learn the formal syntax
4. Code Organization - Structure your projects

For Language Designers

1. Design Principles - Core design philosophy
2. Metaprogramming model - Advanced language features
3. Grammar Specification - Formal language definition

🔗 Cross-References

The documentation uses interconnected references to help you navigate related concepts:

• Internal Links: [[Document Name]] for Obsidian-style navigation
• External Links: [Text](./path/to/doc.md) for explicit references
• Code Examples: Practical demonstrations of concepts
• Design Rationale: Explanations of why features work as they do

📊 Implementation Status

🚧 Design Phase - These documents represent the current design vision for Phaser.

Status Legend:

• ✅ Finalized - Design is stable and ready for implementation
• 🚧 In Progress - Design is being refined based on feedback
• 📋 Planned - Feature is planned but design not yet started

Current Status:

• ✅ Design Principles - Core philosophy established
• 🚧 Grammar Specification - Syntax mostly defined, refinements ongoing
• 🚧 Language Examples - Examples being expanded and validated
• 📋 Code Organization - Patterns being developed
• 🚧 Metaprogramming Model - Architecture defined, details being refined

🤝 Contributing

Language Design Contributions

• Syntax Proposals: Suggest improvements to language syntax
• Feature Requests: Propose new language features with rationale
• Example Programs: Contribute realistic code examples
• Documentation: Improve clarity and completeness of specifications

Review Process

1. Open an Issue to discuss proposed changes
2. Provide Rationale explaining why the change improves Phaser
3. Consider Trade-offs and how changes affect other language aspects
4. Update Examples to reflect any syntax or feature changes

For compiler implementation contributions, see Contributing Guide.

🎯 Audience

This documentation is primarily for:

• Language Users learning to write Phaser programs
• Language Designers working on Phaser’s evolution
• Tool Builders creating IDEs, formatters, and other language tools
• Educators teaching systems programming concepts