Equinox supports both global and local variables, but unlike Lua, both require declaration.
Local variables are restricted to the specific block in which they're declared, but that scope can span an entire file.
Below, the scope of variable x extends across the entire file, while the scope of variable y is limited to my-word.
\ declared at top level
var x
...
: my-word
\ declared within a word
var y
... ;
Values can be assigned to variables using the -> word
12 -> x
x . \ prints out 12
To fetch the value of a variable, you don't need any special words; simply typing its name is enough.
A shorthand for declaring and initializing a variable in one step: value -> var name.
20 -> var v1The above program is translated to the following Lua code:
local v1 = 20If you assign a value to a variable that hasn't been previously declared, you'll get an error.
You can simulate parameters with locals in the following way:
: length -> var z -> var y -> var x
x square y square + z square + sqrt ;
Globals are accessible throughout the entire program, but globals in Lua are known for their slowness relative to locals.
Since top-level locals (vars) can be accessed throughout the entire file, globals are rarely needed.
global g1
12 -> g1The above program is translated to the following Lua code:
g1 = nil
g1 = 12Try to avoid globals and use vars if possible.