include "sys.m";
sys := load Sys Sys->PATH;

aprint: fn(format: string, *): array of byte;
fprint: fn(fd: ref FD, format: string, *): int;
print:  fn(format: string, *): int;
sprint: fn(format: string, *): string;

Each of these functions converts, formats, and prints its trailing arguments under control of a format string. The format contains two types of objects: plain characters, which are simply copied to the output stream, and conversion specifications, each of which results in fetching of zero or more arguments. The Limbo compiler recognizes calls to these functions and checks that the arguments match the format specifications in number and type.

Each conversion specification has the following format:

% [flags] verb

The verb is a single character and each flag is a single character or a (decimal) numeric string. Up to two numeric strings may be used; the first is called f1, the second f2. They can be separated by `.', and if one is present, then f1 and f2 are taken to be zero if missing, otherwise they are considered `omitted'. Either or both of the numbers may be replaced with the character *, meaning that the actual number will be obtained from the argument list as an integer. The flags and numbers are arguments to the verb described below.

d, o, x, X

The numeric verbs d, o, and x format their int arguments in decimal, octal, and hexadecimal (with hex digits in lower-case). The flag b is required when the corresponding value is a Limbo big, not an int. Arguments are taken to be signed, unless the u flag is given, to force them to be treated as unsigned. Each interprets the flags - , , , and # to mean left justified, commas every three digits, and alternative format. If f2 is not omitted, the number is padded on the left with zeros until at least f2 digits appear. Then, if alternative format is specified for x conversion, the number is preceded by 0x. Finally, if f1 is not omitted, the number is padded on the left (or right, if left justification is specified) with enough blanks to make the field at least f1 characters long. The verb X is similar to x, except that the hexadecimal digits are displayed in upper-case, and in alternative format, the number is preceded by 0X.

e, f, g

The floating point verbs e, f, and g take a real argument. Each interprets the flags +, -, and # to mean always print a sign, left justified, and alternative format. F1 is the minimum field width and, if the converted value takes up less than f1 characters, it is padded on the left (or right, if `left justified') with spaces. F2 is the number of digits that are converted after the decimal place for e and f conversions, and f2 is the maximum number of significant digits for g conversions. The f verb produces output of the form [-].IRdigits[.BI.digits]. The e conversion appends an exponent e[-].IRdigits. The g verb will output the argument in either e or f with the goal of producing the smallest output. Also, trailing zeros are omitted from the fraction part of the output, and a trailing decimal point appears only if it is followed by a digit. When alternative format is specified, the result will always contain a decimal point, and for g conversions, trailing zeros are not removed.

E, G

These are the same as e and g respectively, but use E not e to specify an exponent when one appears.

c

The c verb converts a single Unicode character from an int argument to a UTF encoding, justified within a field of f1 characters as described above.

r

The r verb takes no arguments; it prints the error string associated with the most recent system error.

s

The s verb copies a string to the output. The number of characters copied (n) is the minimum of the size of the string and f2. These n characters are justified within a field of f1 characters as described above.

q

The q verb copies a string to the output as for s, but quotes the string in the style of sh(1) only if necessary to avoid ambiguity (for instance if the string contains quotes or spaces). If the format string, however, includes the specifier # (for example %#q), the printed string will always be quoted.