Factor/Features

The Factor language:

• Stack-based
• Dynamic typing
• Extensible syntax
• Powerful Collections library
• Higher-order functions
• Lisp-style Macros
• Object system with Inheritance, Generic functions, Predicate dispatch and Mixins
• Homoiconic syntax
• Error handling with Restarts
• Continuations

The Factor implementation:

• Automatic memory management with a Generational garbage collector
• Optimizing compiler for Word definitions
• Non-optimizing compiler for top-level forms and interactive evaluation
• Stand-alone application deployment on all platforms
• Easy-to-use C library interface
• Bindings for OpenGL, X11, Cocoa, Win32, Windows COM

The Factor environment:

• Graphical read-eval-print loop with object editing inspector
• Single-stepping debugger which can travel backwards in time
• Extensive documentation
• Definition cross-referencing
• Profiler
• Integration with popular editors: jEdit, VIM, Emacs, TextMate, ...

The Factor library:

• Unicode 5.0 support - 21-bit strings, case conversion, character classes, etc
• Unicode I/O with a variety of common encodings
• Advanced I/O features: Process launcher, Memory mapped files, File system change monitors, Secure sockets
• UI
• Calendar
• Relational database access library with database-independent O/R mapping; supports PostgreSQL and SQLite
• HTTP client, server
• SMTP client
• Binary object Serialization
• Powerful Concurrency abstractions: Message passing, Channels, Promises, Futures, Locks, Semaphores, Exchangers
• Pattern matching
• Lazy lists
• Parsing expression grammars
• Cryptography and advanced math routines
• Unit conversion
• XML parser, XML-RPC client and server
• Bindings for Cairo, PostgreSQL, SQLite, OpenSSL, Cryptlib, OpenLDAP, ...
• Various smaller examples, such as a raytracer, mandelbrot fractal viewer, and IRC bot.