Programmer's Guide to the Zeno Interpreter

This chapter explains how to install the software on your computer and how to program and run your first program.

Installing the Zeno Interpreter

The Zeno distribution package consists of the Zeno interpreter, an on-line help file, several sample programs, and a few information text files. These should be copied into one subdirectory of your choice. The program assumes that the executable and on-line help files are in a subdirectory of the directory you chose for Zeno. All program files are in the same directory.

To install the Zeno Interpreter from a CD or floppy disk: Open Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel. Click Add New Programs, and then click CD or Floppy. Follow the instructions on your screen.

To install the Zeno Interpreter from a zip file: Unzip the file to a temporary directory. In the temporary directory, click on the file named setup.exe. Follow the instructions on your screen.

Basics

Every Zeno program is a sequence of declarations and statements that begins and ends within a program block. The following is a complete Zeno program:

    program				% program starts here
        put "Hello!"
    end program				% program stops here

A Zeno program is made up of key words, literal constants, special symbols, and standard subprograms. In the example above, put is a key word, " is a special symbol, and "Hello!" is a literal constant string.

The usual form of a Zeno program is modular. The program module defines both the start and end of a program. All executable statements are contained within this module or within procedure or function (subprograms, to be covered later) modules. Global variable declarations and data type definitions must be located outside of the program and any subprogram modules.