Modules¶

This primer introduces the concept of modules, a concept for encapsulating code for use by other code. It covers:

how to define a module

namespace control within a module

external access to a module's symbols

namespace control when using a module, including:

unlimited

explicit exclusion of symbols

explicit inclusion of symbols

renaming included symbols

cross-file module access

A module is a grouping of code - each program consists of at least one module, and every symbol is associated with some module. If all the code of a file is not enclosed in an explicit module, defined using the module keyword, then the file itself is treated as a module with the same name as the file (minus the .chpl suffix). The compiler can be directed to include modules in separate files by naming them on the command line, utilizing the -M flag, etc. (see the man page for exact details).

module modToUse {

In this case, foo is a public module-level variable that is defined within the module modToUse

var foo = 12;

As is bar.

var bar: int = 2;

A symbol can be declared private - this means that only code defined within the same scope as the definition of this symbol (including code in nested scopes) can access it.

Here, hiddenFoo is a private global variable, which is only accessible by symbols contained in modToUse

private var hiddenFoo = false;

baz is a public function which is defined within modToUse

proc baz (x, y) {
  return x * (x + y);
}

hiddenBaz is a private function, which is also only accessible by symbols contained in modToUse.

  private proc hiddenBaz(a) {
    writeln(a);
    return a + 3;
  }

} // end of modToUse module

In the current implementation, private cannot be applied to type definitions; type aliases, and declarations of enums, records, and classes cannot be declared private. Private also cannot be applied to fields or methods yet.

Here are some other modules which will be used in the remainder of this file

module AnotherModule {
  var a = false;
}

module ThirdModule {
  var b = -13.0;
}


module Conflict {

This variable shares a name with a symbol in modToUse.

  var bar = 5;

  var other = 5.0 + 3i;

  var another = false;
} // end of Conflict module

module DifferentArguments {

This function shares a name with a function in modToUse, but takes different arguments

  proc baz(x) {
    return x - 2;
  }
} // end of DifferentArguments module

module MainModule {
  proc main() {
    writeln("Access from outside a module");

Access From Outside a Module¶

If a module is not the main module for a program, it is desirable for its contents to be accessible to external modules. There are several strategies for accomplishing this:

First, a symbol can be referenced explicitly - this is done using the module name and a separating . as a prefix to the name of the symbol desired.

var thriceFoo = 3 * modToUse.foo; // should be '36'
writeln(thriceFoo);

If several of the module's symbols are desired, or the same symbol is desired multiple times, then it can be convenient to utilize what is known as a "use statement".

use statements can be inserted at any lexical scope that contains executable code.

A use statement makes all of the module's visible symbols available to the scope that contains the use statement. These symbols may then be accessed without the module name prefix.

In this case, bazBarFoo should store the result of calling modToUse.baz on modToUse.bar and modToUse.foo, which is in this case 28.

{
  use modToUse;

  var bazBarFoo = baz(bar, foo);
  writeln(bazBarFoo);

}

Since use statements only affect their containing scope, when we leave a scope like this, we revert to requiring fully-qualified names

Since the following line doesn't live within a scope that contains a use of modToUse, it would generate an error if uncommented. This is because foo cannot be directly referenced, and is not qualified with a module name.

// var twiceFoo = 2 * foo;

use statements apply to the entire scope in which they are defined. Even if the use statement occurs after code which would directly refer to its symbols, these references are still valid. This is similar to other Chapel forms of introducing symbols - for instance, class declaration order does not prevent a class declared earlier from referring to one declared later.

Thus, as in an earlier example, bazBarFoo should store the result of calling modToUse.baz on modToUse.bar and modToUse.foo, which is again 28.

{
  var bazBarFoo = baz(bar, foo);

  use modToUse;

  writeln(bazBarFoo);
}

The symbols provided by a use statement are only considered when the name in question cannot be resolved directly within the local scope. Thus, because another bar is defined here, the compiler will find the bar at this scope when resolving the access within the writeln, rather than modToUse.bar.

{
  var bar = 4.0;

  use modToUse;

  writeln(bar);
  // Will output the value of the bar defined in this scope (which is
  // '4.0'), rather than the value of modToUse.bar (which is '2')
}

If a symbol cannot be resolved directly within the local scope, then the symbols provided by a use statement are considered before the symbols defined outside of the scope where the use statement applies. Thus, because the other bar was defined outside of these curly braces, the compiler will find the bar from modToUse when resolving the access within the writeln, rather than the outer bar. The bar from modToUse is said to be "shadowing" the definition at the outer scope.

{
  var bar = false;
  {

    use modToUse;
    writeln(bar);
    // Will output the value of modToUse.bar (which is '2'), rather
    // than the value of the bar defined outside of this scope (which
    // is 'false')
  }
}

Multiple modules may be used in the same use statement

{
  use modToUse, AnotherModule, ThirdModule;

  if (a || b < 0) {
    // Refers to AnotherModule.a (which is 'false') and ThirdModule.b (which
    // is '-13.0')
    writeln(foo); // Refers to modToUse.foo
  } else {
    writeln(bar); // Refers to modToUse.bar
  } // Will output modToUse.foo (which is '12')
}

Equivalently, a scope may contain multiple use statements

{
  use modToUse;
  use AnotherModule, ThirdModule;

  writeln(a && foo > 15);
  // outputs false (because AnotherModule.a is 'false' and modToUse.foo is
  // '12')
}

In either case, the modules used in this way are considered in concert (after symbols defined at this scope but before symbols defined outside of it) - the ordering within a use statement or across multiple use statements does not affect the precedence of symbols that share a name. This means that if two modules each define a symbol with the same name, and both modules are used at the same scope, attempts to access a symbol by that name will result in a naming conflict.

The commented-out line below would fail because both modToUse and Conflict define a symbol named bar:

{
  use modToUse, Conflict;

  writeln(foo); // Outputs modToUse.foo ('12')
  // writeln(bar);
  writeln(other); // Outputs Conflict.other ('5.0 + 3.0i')
}

When the symbol being accessed is the name of a function, the rules become more complex. If the two function definitions are overloads (or define different arguments), then the best match will be found, no matter where the function is defined relative to the other function definitions.

More details on when overloading applies, when functions may shadow other functions, etc. can be found in the relevant section of the language specification. They will not be covered further in this primer.

{

  use modToUse, DifferentArguments;

  writeln(baz(2, 3));
  // Accesses the function modToUse.baz using the two arguments.  Should
  // output 2 * (2 + 3) or '10'
  writeln(baz(3));
  // Access the function DifferentArguments.baz using the single argument.
  // Should output 3 - 2, or '1'
}

Limiting a Use¶

To get around such conflicts, there are multiple strategies. If only a small number of symbols are desired from a particular module, you can specify the symbols to bring in via an only list.

Here, because of the only clause in the use of Conflict, Conflict's bar is not directly accessible here.

writeln();
writeln("Limiting a use");


{
  use modToUse;
  use Conflict only other, another;

  writeln(foo); // Outputs modToUse.foo ('12')
  writeln(bar); // Outputs modToUse.bar ('2')
  writeln(other); // Outputs Conflict.other ('5.0 + 3.0i')
}

Using an except list will cause every symbol other than the ones listed to be available.

{
  use Conflict;
  use modToUse except bar;

  writeln(foo); // Outputs modToUse.foo ('12')
  writeln(bar); // Outputs Conflict.bar ('5')
  writeln(other); // Outputs Conflict.other ('5.0 + 3.0i')
}

If both symbols which conflict are desired, or if the use causes symbols to be shadowed which are necessary, you can choose to rename a symbol when including it via the as keyword, so long as the new name does not cause any conflicts with other included symbols.

{
  use modToUse;
  use Conflict only bar as boop;
  writeln(bar); // Outputs modToUse.bar ('2')
  writeln(boop); // Outputs Conflict.bar ('5')
}

You can also use a module without making any symbols available in an unqualified manner using an asterisk after except...

{
  use modToUse except *;
  use Conflict except *;
  writeln(modToUse.bar);  // Outputs modToUse.bar ('2')
  writeln(Conflict.bar);  // Outputs Conflict.bar ('5')
  // writeln(bar);        // this won't resolve since bar isn't available
}

...or equivalently, an empty identifier list after only.

{
  use modToUse only;
  use Conflict only;
  writeln(modToUse.bar);  // Outputs modToUse.bar ('2')
  writeln(Conflict.bar);  // Outputs Conflict.bar ('5')
  // writeln(bar);        // this won't resolve since bar isn't available
}

writeln();

Application to Enums¶

use statements can also be called on enums. Normally to access one of an enum's constants, you must provide a prefix of the enum name. With a use of that enum, such a prefix is no longer necessary.

writeln("Application to enums");

{

  enum color {red, blue, yellow};

  {
    // Normally you must prefix the constant with the name of the enum
    var aColor = color.blue;
    writeln(aColor);
  }

  {
    use color;

    // The 'use' statement allows you to access an enum's symbols without
    // the prefix
    var anotherColor = yellow; // color.yellow
    writeln(anotherColor);
  }

}

writeln();

All of the above rules for using modules also apply to using enums

Nested Modules¶

A use of a nested module (see the module OuterNested and its submodules for an example of a nested module) is similar to that of a top-level module. Its name is treated like any other visible symbol in the outer module, so if the outer module has not been used then the inner module must be explicitly named.

    {
      use OuterNested.Inner1;

      writeln(foobar); // Will output Inner1.foobar, or '14'
    }

  } // end of main() function
} // end of MainModule module

module OuterNested {
  var foo = 12;
  var bar: int = 2;
  private var hiddenFoo = false;

  proc baz (x, y) {
    return x * (x + y);
  }

  private proc hiddenBaz(a) {
    writeln(a);
    return a + 3;
  }

A module defined within another module is called a nested module. These submodules can refer to symbols defined within their parent module, but their parent module can't directly access the contents of the nested module without a use statement or fully qualified name.

The variable foobar references OuterNested's foo and bar variables.

module Inner1 {
  var foobar = foo + bar;
}

Since the module Inner2 is defined within OuterNested, it can access the private variable hiddenFoo and the private function hiddenBaz. However, any private symbol defined within Inner2 will not be visible within scopes defined outside of Inner2.

  module Inner2 {
    private var innerOnly = -17;
    var canSeeHidden = !hiddenFoo;
  }
} // end of OuterNested module