application

model grammar version 40

  1. Getting started: the minimal model
  2. Data model structure
    1. The root rule
      1. Application users
      2. Interfaces
      3. The root node type
      4. Numerical types
    2. Node types
      1. Property attributes
      2. Reference set attributes
      3. Command attributes
  3. Constraints
  4. Links
  5. Derivations
    1. Derived texts without constraint
    2. Derived texts with constraint (derived references)
    3. Derived files
    4. Derived numbers
    5. Derived states
    6. Derived collections
  6. Permissions and Todos
  7. Commands and Timers
  8. Node type identification
  9. Output parameters (legacy)
  10. Navigation
    1. Node navigation
    2. Variable assignment and navigation
    3. Shared node navigation for constraints & derivations (legacy)
    4. Node navigation for constraints (legacy)
    5. Node navigation for derivations (legacy)
    6. Property navigation for derivations (legacy)
  11. GUI annotations
  12. Type checker annotation rules
  13. Unsupported legacy rules

In every Alan grammar, literals between square brackets indicate required keywords.

'this is the key of a property': text = "hello world 0"
'this is the key of another property': text = "hello world 1"

In the grammar, indent is an instruction for the deparser/pretty-printer; you can ignore it. Properties that are marked implicit exist for type checking purposes.

NOTE: the Alan compiler requires whitespace between different keywords! For example, ['text' '='] in the grammar requires whitespace between the keyword text and = in your model. That is, text = is valid, while text= is invalid.

Getting started: the minimal model


Every valid Alan model instantiates the root rule. We can use that rule for extracting a minimal model. For the application language, the minimal model is

users
interfaces
root { }
numerical-types

Thus, every model.application language defines users for access control, interfaces specifying operations and data from external systems, a root type, and numerical-types. The next section explains the minimal model in more detail.

Data model structure


The root rule

Application users

The language supports two classes of users: anonymous users and dynamic users. Anonymous users do not require a login; dynamic users do.

The keyword anonymous enables anonymous user access to your application. If you do not plan to support anonymous users, you just leave it out: the 'no' state for 'allow anonymous user' is the default, requiring no code at all.

'user' ['users'] component 'modifier'
'allow anonymous user' stategroup (
	'no'
	'yes' [ 'anonymous' ]
)
'has dynamic users' stategroup (
	'no'
	'yes'
		'context node path' [ 'dynamic' ':' ] component 'node content path'
		'users collection' [ '.' ] reference
		'password node' ['password' ':'] component 'node content path'
		'password property' [ '.' ] reference
)
Interfaces

If your application consumes data from external sources, you will have defined an Alan interface. In order to consume an interface, you mention it in a list of interfaces, so that you can reference the interface when configuring permissions.

'imported interfaces' ['interfaces'] collection indent (
	'modifier' component 'modifier'
)
The root node type

Alan models are hierarchical models specifying hierarchical data. An Alan model is a hierarchy of nested types with a single root type:

root { }

The root type (short for node type) is a complex type that nests other (complex) types. Types are surrounded by curly braces, and their identification is a path which starts from the root type. We refer to an instance of a type as a node. The rule for defining a type carries the same name: node; it should be read as the node type rule, as we define node types in a model (for legacy reasons it is called the 'node' rule).

'root' [ 'root' ] component 'node'
Numerical types

Numbers in an application model require a numerical type. Also, computations with numbers of different numerical types require conversion rules. Divisions require a division conversion rule, products require a product conversion rule, and so on. Some examples of numerical types, with conversion rules are

'date' in 'days' @date
'date and time' in 'seconds' @date-time
'days'
'milliseconds'
    = 'seconds' * 1 * 10 ^ 3 // rule for converting 'seconds' to milliseconds
    @factor: 10^ 3
    @label: "sec"
'minutes' @duration: minutes
'seconds'
    = 'seconds' * 'factor' // 'seconds' times a 'factor' produces 'seconds'
    = 'seconds' / 'factor'
    = 'milliseconds' * 1 * 10 ^ -3
    = 'minutes' * 60 * 10 ^ 0
    @duration: seconds
'factor'
    = 'factor' * 'factor'
    = 'seconds' / 'seconds'

Annotations like @date map numerical types to formats for easy modification in the GUI. With @factor you can present 1000 milliseconds as 1 second to the application user.
If you do so, be sure to set @label: to "sec" as well!

'numerical types' [ 'numerical-types' ] collection indent (
	'type' stategroup (
		'relative' ['in']
			'range type' reference
		'absolute'
			'product conversions' collection indent ( ['=']
				'right' ['*'] reference
			)
			'division conversions' collection indent ( ['=']
				'denominator' ['/'] reference
			)
	)
	'singular conversions' collection indent ( ['=']
		'type' stategroup (
			'factor'
				'invert' stategroup (
					'no' ['*']
					'yes' ['/']
				)
				'factor' number
				'base' ['*'] number
				'exponent' ['^'] number
			'base'
				'offset' ['+'] number
				'base' ['*'] number
				'exponent' ['^'] number
				'unit conversion' stategroup (
					'no'
						'constraint' component 'numerical type constraint'
					'yes'
						'conversion rule' ['in'] reference
				)
		)
	)
	'ui' group (
		'represent as' stategroup (
			'model'
			'date' [ '@date' ]
			'date and time' [ '@date-time' ]
			'decimal' [ '@factor:' '10^' ]
				'point translation' number
			'duration' [ '@duration:' ]
				'unit' stategroup (
					'seconds' [ 'seconds' ]
					'minutes' [ 'minutes' ]
					'hours' [ 'hours' ]
				)
		)
		'label' stategroup (
			'model'
			'custom' [ '@label:' ]
				'label' text
		)
	)
)

Node types

Node types contain a permissions definition for controlling read and update permissions, a todo definition to mark a node as a todo-item, and attributes. An attribute is of type property, reference-set, or command.

Property attributes

A property specifies a part of the data structure. Alan supports six different property types: text, file, number (with subtypes integer and natural), collection, stategroup, and group.

Text, file, and number are primitive property types. Text properties hold an unbounded string value. File properties hold two unbounded string values: a file token and a file extension. Integer number properties hold an integer value, and natural number properties hold an integer value greater than zero. For ensuring that number values have a predefined accuracy, Alan does not support number values with a fractional component. For expressing the accuracy of a number, number properties reference a numerical type.

'Name'        : text
'Price'       : integer 'euro'
'Release Date': natural 'date and time'

A collection property holds a map of key-value pairs. Keys are text values that have to be unique such that we can reference them unambiguously. A key field has to be specified explicitly, after the keyword collection; values are nodes of an inline defined type that specifies the key field:

Customers : collection ['Customer ID'] {
    'Customer ID': text
    ... /* other attributes of this type */ ...
}

A state group property holds a value indicating a state. States are the alternatives to an aspect that a state group property indicates. For example, red, orange, or green for a color property of a traffic light. The type of the property value corresponds to one out of multiple predefined state types, such as simple or assembled:

'Product Type': stategroup (
    'Simple' -> { ... /* attributes of this type */ ... }
    'Assembled' -> { ... /* attributes of this type */ ... }
)

A group property groups related property values, which is useful for presentational purposes:

'Address': group {
    'City': text
    'State': text
    'Zip Code': text
}

Derived values. Properties of the different types hold either elementary values or derived values (derivations). Derived values are computed from elementary values and other derived values. Application users cannot modify derived values. Properties holding derived values require an expression for computing their values at runtime:

'City': text                    // elementary value property
'copy of City':= text = .'City' // derived value property with expression

The derivations section provides the grammar for derivation expressions, detailing the different computations that the language supports.

Presentation options. The ui groups in the grammar specify the different possibilities for tweaking and tuning the behaviour and presentation of properties in the generated GUI. Some examples of GUI annotations are

Reference set attributes

A reference-set is a special property that holds a set of inverse references created by reference constraints. Derivation expressions use them for computations (e.g. derived numbers).

Command attributes

A command is a complex parametrized atomic operation on the dataset; a command is executed in a single transaction. A command attribute on a node type consists of a parameter definition and an implementation.

'node' [ '{' , '}' ]
	'permissions definition' component 'node permissions definition'
	'todo definition' component 'todo definition'
	'has attributes' stategroup has 'attributes' first 'first' 'yes' 'no'
	'attributes' collection (
		'preceding siblings' collection predecessors
		'type' stategroup (
			'referencer anchor'[':' 'reference-set']
				'node type path' ['->'] component 'node path'
				'EQ node type' component 'EQ node type'
				'text' ['=>' 'inverse' '>' ] reference
				'referencer is bidirectional' stategroup ( 'is bidirectional' )
			'log' [ ':' 'log' ] // NOT SUPPORTED!
				'root' component 'log node'
			'command' [ ':' 'command' ]
				'type' stategroup (
					'global'
						'ui' group (
							'visible' stategroup (
								'true' [ '@visible' ] // NOTE: by default, commands are not visible in the GUI
								'false'
							)
						)
					'component' [ 'component' ]
				)
				'parameters root entity' component 'entity'
				'parameters' component 'parameter definition'
				'implementation' stategroup (
					'external' [ 'external' ]
						'interface' [ 'from' ] reference // the interface that defines the command
					'internal'
						'implementation' component 'command implementation'
				)
			'property'
				'data type' stategroup (
					'elementary' [ ':' ]
					'derived' [ ':=' ]
				)
				'type' stategroup (
					'group' [ 'group' ]
						'type' stategroup (
							'elementary'
							'derived' ['=']
						)
						'ui' group (
							'use as namespace' stategroup (
								'no'
								'yes' [ '@namespace' ] // NOTE: shows group as a level in GUI breadcrumb
							)
							'visible' stategroup (
								'true'
									'break out' stategroup (
										'no'
										'yes' [ '@breakout' ]
									)
								'false' [ '@hidden' ]
							)
							'has description' stategroup (
								'no'
								'yes' [ '@description:' ]
									'description' text
							)
						)
						'node' component 'node'
					'collection' [ 'collection' ]
						'key property' ['[',']'] reference
						'type' stategroup (
							'elementary'
								'graph constraints' component 'graph constraints definition'
							'derived'
								'key constraint' stategroup (
									'no' [ '=' 'flatten' ]
										'branches' ['(', ')'] collection (
											'expression' [ '=' ] component 'flatten expression'
										)
										'separator' ['join'] stategroup (
											'dot' ['.']
											'dash' ['-']
											'colon' [':']
											'greater than' ['>']
											'space' ['space']
										)
									'yes' [ '=' ]
										'expression' component 'plural reference expression'
								)
						)
						'entity' component 'entity'
						'permissions' component 'item permissions definition'
						'ui' group (
							'sort' stategroup (
								'no'
								'yes'
									'direction' stategroup (
										'ascending' ['@ascending:']
										'descending' ['@descending:']
									)
									'property context' ['(',')'] component 'ui conditional path'
									'type' stategroup (
										'text' [':'] //TODO: fix inconsistency; should be ['.']
											'property' reference
										'number' ['#']
											'property' reference
									)
							)
							'visible' stategroup (
								'true'
								'false' [ '@hidden' ]
							)
							'size' stategroup (
								'small' [ '@small' ]
								'large'
							)
							'can be dormant' stategroup (
								'no'
								'yes' [ '@dormant' ]
									'context' component 'node content path'
									'state group' [ '?' ] reference
									'dormant state' [ '|' ] reference
							)
							'has description' stategroup (
								'no'
								'yes' [ '@description:' ]
									'description' text
							)
							'linked node mapping' stategroup (
								'none'
								'from linked entry' [ '@linked-node-mapping' ]
									'context node selection' component 'entity scoped context node selection'
										'mapping' component 'ui linked node mapping'
							)
						)
						'node' component 'node'
					'number'
						'type' stategroup (
							'elementary'
								'set' stategroup (
									'integer' [ 'integer' ]
									'natural' [ 'natural' ]
								)
								'numerical type' reference
								'type' stategroup (
									'causal'
										'type' stategroup (
											'mutation' [ '=' 'mutation-time' ]
												'watched property' stategroup (
													'number' [ '#' ]
														'number' reference
													'text' [ '.' ]
														'text' reference
												)
											'creation' [ '=' 'creation-time' ]
											'destruction'
												'destruction operation' stategroup (
													'set to lifetime' [ '=' 'life-time' ]
													'add lifetime' [ 'add' 'life-time' ]
													'subtract lifetime' [ 'subtract' 'life-time' ]
												)
												'watched stategroup' ['?'] reference
												'watched state' ['|'] reference
										)
									'simple'
										'record mutation time' stategroup (
											'yes' ['mutation-time']
												'meta property' ['=' '#'] reference
											'no'
										)
								)
							'derived'
								'type' stategroup (
									'integer' [ 'integer' ]
										'numerical type' reference
										'conversion' [ '=' ] stategroup (
											'none'
											'singular'
												'conversion rule' ['from'] reference
										)
										'expression' component 'integer expression'
									'natural' [ 'natural' ]
										'numerical type' reference
										'conversion' [ '=' ] stategroup (
											'none'
											'singular'
												'conversion rule' ['from'] reference
										)
										'expression' component 'natural expression'
								)
						)
						'behaviour' stategroup (
							'none'
							'timer' [ 'timer' 'ontimeout']
								'implementation' component 'command implementation'
						)
						'ui' group (
							'visible' stategroup (
								'true'
								'false' [ '@hidden' ]
							)
							'identifying' stategroup (
								'no'
								'yes' [ '@identifying' ]
							)
							'default' stategroup (
								'no'
								'yes'
									'value' stategroup (
										'today' [ '@default:' 'today' ]
										'now' [ '@default:' 'now' ]
										'one' [ '@default:' 'one' ]
										'zero' [ '@default:' 'zero' ]
									)
							)
							'metadata' stategroup (
								'no'
								'yes' [ '@metadata' ]
							)
							'validation' group (
								'has minimum' stategroup (
									'no'
									'yes' [ '@min:' ]
										'minimum' component 'ui number limit'
								)
								'has maximum' stategroup (
									'no'
									'yes' [ '@max:' ]
										'maximum' component 'ui number limit'
								)
							)
							'has description' stategroup (
								'no'
								'yes' [ '@description:' ]
									'description' text
							)
						)
					'file' ['file']
						'type' stategroup (
							'elementary'
							'derived' [ '=' ]
								'type' stategroup (
									'singular'
										'type' stategroup (
											'property'
												'context selection' component 'context property selection'
												'file' [ '/' ] reference
											'node'
												'selection' component 'calculated node selection starting from property'
												'file' [ '/' ] reference
										)
									'conditional' ['switch']
										'state group selection' ['(',')'] component 'calculated state group selection starting from property'
										'states' [ '(' , ')' ] collection ( ['|']
											'expression' [ '=' ] component 'conditional file expression'
										)
								)
						)
						'ui' group (
							'file name expression' stategroup (
								'no'
								'yes' [ '@name' ]
									'file name expression' [ '(' , ')' ] component 'ui file name expression'
							)
							'visible' stategroup (
								'true'
								'false' [ '@hidden' ]
							)
							'identifying' stategroup (
								'no'
								'yes' [ '@identifying' ]
							)
							'has description' stategroup (
								'no'
								'yes' [ '@description:' ]
									'description' text
							)
						)
					'text' ['text']
						'type' stategroup (
							'elementary'
								'has constraint' stategroup (
									'no'
									'yes' ['->']
										'expression' component 'reference constraint expression'
										'output parameters' component 'output parameters definition'
										'referencer' component 'referencer'
								)
								'record mutation time' stategroup (
									'yes' ['mutation-time']
										'meta property' ['=' '#'] reference
									'no'
								)
							'derived'
								'has constraint' stategroup (
									'no' ['=']
										'value source' stategroup (
											'key' ['$']
												'is collection key' component 'EQ member'
											'expression'
												'not collection key' component 'EQ member'
												'expression' component 'text expression'
										)
									'yes' ['=>']
										'expression' component 'derived reference constraint expression'
										'output parameters' component 'output parameters definition'
										'value provision' ['='] stategroup (
											'key' ['$']
												'is collection key' component 'EQ member'
											'expression'
												'not collection key' component 'EQ member'
												'expression' component 'singular reference expression'
										)
										'referencer' component 'referencer'
								)
						)
						'value type' stategroup (
							'link' [ '~>' ]
								'selection' component 'link text expression'
								'linker' component 'linker'
							'simple'
						)
						'ui' group (
							'visible' stategroup (
								'true'
								'false' [ '@hidden' ]
							)
							'identifying' stategroup (
								'no'
								'yes' [ '@identifying' ]
							)
							'type' stategroup (
								'default'
								'multi-line' [ '@multi-line' ]
							)
							'default value' stategroup (
								'no'
								'yes' [ '@default:' ]
									'source' stategroup (
										'property'
											'context node' component 'context node selection'
											'property' [ '.' ] reference
										'current user' ['user']
											'constraint' component 'EQ node type'
										'guid' ['guid']
									)
							)
							'has validation' stategroup (
								'no'
								'yes' [ '@validate:' ]
									'rules' component 'ui text validation'
							)
							'has description' stategroup (
								'no'
								'yes' [ '@description:' ]
									'description' text
							)
						)
					'state group' [ 'stategroup' ]
						'type' stategroup (
							'elementary'
							'derived' ['=']
								'expression' component 'state expression'
						)
						'ui' group (
							'visible' stategroup (
								'true'
								'false' [ '@hidden' ]
							)
							'identifying' stategroup (
								'no'
								'yes' [ '@identifying' ]
							)
							'default state' stategroup (
								'no'
								'yes' [ '@default:' ]
									'state' reference
							)
							'constraining collection' stategroup (
								'no'
								'yes' [ '@ordered:' ]
									'type' stategroup ( 'linear' )
									'first entry state' reference
									'state' [ 'or' ] reference
									'constraining reference' [ '.' ] reference
							)
							'has description' stategroup (
								'no'
								'yes' [ '@description:' ]
									'description' text
							)
						)
						'output parameters' collection ( [ '(' , ')' ]
							'dependable' component 'dependency'
							'type' stategroup (
								'elementary' [ '->' ]
								'derived' [ '=>' ]
							)
							'node selection' component 'node path'
						)
						'has states' stategroup has 'states' first 'first' 'yes' 'no'
						'states' [ '(' , ')' ] collection order 'view order' indent (
							'has successor' stategroup has successor 'successor' 'yes' 'no'
							'record lifetime' stategroup (
								'yes' ['life-time']
									'meta property' ['=' '#'] reference
									'creation timestamp' ['from'] reference
								'no'
								)
							'input parameters' collection ( [ '(' , ')' ]
								'type' stategroup (
									'node'
										'type' stategroup (
											'elementary' ['->']
												'selection' component 'resolved state group selection starting from property'
												'state' [ '|' ] reference
												'tail' component 'node content path'
											'derived' [':']
												'node selection' component 'node path'
										)
									'number'
										'set' [':'] stategroup (
											'integer' ['integer']
											'natural' ['natural']
										)
										'numerical type' reference
								)
							)
							'output arguments' [ '->' ] collection ( [ '(' , ')' ]
								'type' stategroup (
									'elementary' [ '->' ]
										'type' stategroup (
											'descendant'
												'type' stategroup (
													'input parameter' ['&']
														'input parameter' reference
													'this'
												)
												'selection' component 'resolved node descendant selection starting from node'
											'ancestor' [ '?^' ]
												'selection' component 'resolved node selection starting from property'
										)
									'derived' [ '=>' ]
										'type' stategroup (
											'descendant'
												'type' stategroup (
													'input parameter' ['&']
														'input parameter' reference
													'this'
												)
												'selection' component 'calculated descendant node selection starting from node'
											'ancestor' [ '?^' ]
												'selection' component 'calculated node selection starting from property'
										)
								)
							)
							'permissions' component 'item permissions definition'
							'ui' group (
								'desired state' stategroup (
									'no'
									'yes' [ '@desired' ]
								)
								'verified state' stategroup (
									'no'
									'yes' [ '@verified' ]
								)
							)
							'node' component 'node'
						)
				)
		)
		'attribute' component 'member'
	)

Constraints


The application language supports two types of constraints on data: reference constraints and graph constraints.

Reference constraints ensure that text properties hold a key value that uniquely identifies an item in a single specific collection. This ensures that derived value computations and command invocations can safely use references. In the GUI, reference constraints translate to a select list from which the application user has to choose an item.

Reference constraint expressions exist in two different flavours: (1) backward reference expressions that use earlier defined attributes and (2) forward reference expressions that freely use earlier and later defined attributes. We recommend limiting the use of forward references, as their use in computations is restricted for ensuring terminating computations.

References can be unidirectional or bidirectional. For bidirectional references, you specify a reference-set:

'Products': collection ['Name']
    'assembly': acyclic-graph
{
    'Name': text
      // reference-set holding Orders added by Product references:
    'Orders': reference-set -> .'Orders' => inverse >'Product'
}
'Orders': collection ['ID'] {
    'ID': text
      // a (bidirectional) backward reference:
    'Product': text -> .^ .'Products' -<'Orders'
}

The expression .^ .'Products' is a navigation expression that produces that produces exactly one collection at runtime. The Alan runtime interpretes such navigation expressions as follows: starting from the Orders node, go to the parent node (as expressed by the navigation step .^); then select the Products collection found on that node. Thus, at runtime, navigation expressions are executed relative to the context node for which the expression should be evaluated.

Graph constraints ensure termination for recursive computations traversing a graph. Graph constraints constrain that a set of references (edges) together form a graph satisfying a specific property. For example, an acyclic-graph constraint ensures that references that partake in the graph, form a directed acyclic graph. For a detailed explanation, see AlanLight.

The code sample below presents a graph constraint assembly. Product references of Parts partake in the acyclic assembly graph. The constraint ensures that Product Price computations terminate:

'Products': collection ['Name']
    'assembly': acyclic-graph
{
    'Name': text
    'Parts': collection ['Product'] {
         // a 'forward' (self) reference that partakes in a graph constraint:
        'Product': text -> forward .^ .^ .'Products' / .^ 'assembly'
        'Part Price': integer 'euro' = >'Product'#'Product Price'
    }
    'Product Price': integer 'euro' = sum .'Parts'#'Part Price' // recursion!
}
'reference constraint expression'
	'type' stategroup (
		'backward'
			'selection' component 'resolved collection selection starting from property'
		'forward' [ 'forward' ]
			'head' component 'unresolved node selection'
			'collection' ['.'] reference
			'constrain' stategroup (
				'no'
				'yes' ['/']
					'ancestor' component 'ancestor node selection'
					'collection constraint' reference // reference to a 'graph constraint'
			)
	)
	'tail' component 'node content path'
	'EQ modifier' component 'EQ modifier'
	'bidirectional' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes' [ '-<' ]
			'anchor' reference
	)
'derived reference constraint expression'
	'type' stategroup (
		'backward'
			'selection' component 'calculated collection selection starting from property'
		'self'
			'selection' component 'ancestor node selection'
			'collection' [ '.self' ] stategroup ( 'collection' )
	)
	'tail' component 'derivation node content path'
'graph constraints definition'
	'constraints' collection (
		'type' [':'] stategroup (
			'acyclic' [ 'acyclic-graph' ]
			'linear' [ 'ordered-graph' ]
		)
	)

Links mark relations between nodes that are not, or cannot be enforced by the runtime. Similar to constraints, they also feature select lists in the generated GUI.

Links are especially useful when importing data from external systems via an Alan interface. An Alan application requires that imports via an Alan interface always succeed. Therefore, application data cannot put constraints on imported data; that is, unless the interface specifies them. To exemplify this, suppose that order management application imports Products from a Catalog Provider. As Catalog Provider can remove Products at any given time, we cannot put constraints on them. Orders have to link to Products instead:

'Catalog': group { can-update: interface 'Catalog Provider'
    'Products': collection ['Name'] {
        'Name': text
    }
}
'Orders': collection ['ID'] {
    'ID': text
     // a link to a 'Products' item from the catalog provider:
    'Product': text ~> .^ +'Catalog' .'Products'
}
'link text expression'
	'dependency' stategroup (
		'link'
			'context selection' component 'context property selection'
			'text' [ '.' ] reference //TODO: should be > (ambiguous right now)
			'group selection' component 'group node selection'
			'collection' ['.'] reference
		'node'
			'collection selection' component 'calculated collection selection starting from property'
	)
	'tail' component 'derivation node content path'
'link text expression context path'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no' [ '$' ]
		'yes' [ '$^' ]
			'tail' component 'link text expression context path'
	)

Derivations


Derivation expressions use earlier defined properties for deriving values for ensuring terminating computations of derived values (derivations). After a navigation step for following a reference, derivation expressions can use later defined properties as well. Please note that some work remains to be done on the application language to fully ensure safe computations. For more details on this, see AlanLight.

Derived texts without constraint

A derived text property holds a (sequence of) static text values and text values from other properties:

'Address': group {
    'Street'       : text // e.g. "Huntington Rd"
    'Street number': text // e.g. "12B"
}
 // label for an external billing system:
'Address label':= text
    = +'Address'.'Street' " " +'Address'.'Street number' // "Huntington Rd 12B"
'text expression'
	'type' stategroup (
		'singular'
			'selection' component 'text selection starting from property'
		'conditional' ['switch' ]
			'state group selection' ['(', ')'] component 'calculated state group selection starting from property'
			'states' [ '(' , ')' ] collection ( ['|']
				'expression' [ '=' ] component 'conditional text expression'
			)
	)
	'has successor' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes'
			'tail' component 'text expression'
	)
'text selection starting from property'
	'type' stategroup (
		'value'
			'value' text
		'text'
			'type' stategroup (
				'text'
					'context selection' component 'context property selection'
					'text' [ '.' ] reference
				'node'
					'selection' component 'calculated node selection starting from property'
					'text' [ '.' ] reference
			)
	)
'conditional text expression context path'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes' [ '$^' ]
			'tail' component 'conditional text expression context path'
	)
'conditional text expression'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
			'type' stategroup (
				'value'
					'value' text
				'text'
					'expression context' component 'conditional text expression context path'
					'context' stategroup (
						'target context' [ '$^' ]
							'selection' component 'text selection starting from property'
						'expression result' [ '$' ]
							'context type' stategroup (
								'input parameter'
									'input parameter' [ '&' ] reference
								'this state'
							)
							'selection' component 'calculated descendant node selection starting from node'
							'text' [ '.' ] reference
					)
			)
		'yes' ['switch' '(']
			'expression context' component 'conditional text expression context path'
			'type' stategroup (
				'merge' [ '$^' ]
					'state group selection' component 'calculated state group selection starting from property'
				'flatten' ['$']
					'context type' stategroup (
						'input parameter'
							'input parameter' [ '&' ] reference
						'this state'
					)
					'selection' component 'calculated descendant node selection starting from node'
					'state group' [ '?' ] reference
			)
			'KEYWORD' [')'] component 'KEYWORD'
			'states' [ '(' , ')' ] collection ( ['|']
				'expression' [ '=' ] component 'conditional text expression'
			)
	)

Derived texts with constraint (derived references)

The application language supports two types of derived references: singular and branch. The singular type creates a direct relation between nodes using other relations. The branch type is required for creating derived references to items in derived collections merge nodes of different types (see node type rule). The example below shows a property ` for deriving a (singular) direct reference from an Orders item to a Manufacturers item. The expression for the Manufacturer reference an Orders item requires specifying an output parameter after the constraint expression for the Product property.

'Manufacturers': collection ['Name'] { 'Name': text }
'Products': collection ['Name'] {
    'Name': text
    'Manufacturer': text -> .^ .'Manufacturers'
}
'Orders': collection ['ID'] {
    'ID': text
    'Product': text -> .^ .'Products' ( 'Manufacturer' => >'Manufacturer' )
    'Manufacturer':= text => .^ .'Manufacturers' = >'Product'$'Manufacturer'
}
'singular reference expression'
	'type' stategroup (
		'branch' // branch of derived collection constructed using flatten expressions
			'branch' [ 'from' ] reference
			'root entity constraint' stategroup ( 'root' )
			'expression' [ '[', ']' ] component 'calculated node selection starting from property'
		'singular'
			'expression' component 'calculated node selection starting from property'
	)

Derived files

An example of a derived file property Contract. The property holds the value of a Default Contract in case of a Standard Agreement, and a Custom Contract in case of a Custom Agreement:

'Default Contract': file
'Agreement': stategroup (
    'Standard' -> { }
    'Custom' -> {
        'Contract': file
    }
)
'Contract':= file = switch ( ?'Agreement' ) (
    |'Default' = $^ /'Default Contract'
    |'Custom' = $ /'Contract'
)
'conditional file expression context path'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes' [ '$^' ]
			'tail' component 'conditional file expression context path'
	)
'conditional file expression'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
			'expression context' component 'conditional file expression context path'
			'context' stategroup (
				'target context' [ '$^' ]
					'type' stategroup (
						'property'
							'context selection' component 'context property selection'
							'file' [ '/' ] reference
						'node'
							'selection' component 'calculated node selection starting from property'
							'file' [ '/' ] reference
					)
				'expression result' [ '$' ]
					'context type' stategroup (
						'input parameter'
							'input parameter' [ '&' ] reference
						'this state'
					)
					'selection' component 'calculated descendant node selection starting from node'
					'file' [ '/' ] reference
			)
		'yes' ['switch' '(']
			'expression context' component 'conditional file expression context path'
			'type' stategroup (
				'merge' [ '$^' ]
					'state group selection' component 'calculated state group selection starting from property'
				'flatten' ['$']
					'context type' stategroup (
						'input parameter'
							'input parameter' [ '&' ] reference
						'this state'
					)
					'selection' component 'calculated descendant node selection starting from node'
					'state group' [ '?' ] reference
			)
			'KEYWORD' [')'] component 'KEYWORD'
			'states' [ '(' , ')' ] collection ( ['|']
				'expression' [ '=' ] component 'conditional file expression'
			)
	)

Derived numbers

Examples of derived number properties, including required conversion rules:

root {
    'Tax Percentage': natural 'percent'
    'Products': collection ['Name'] {
        'Name': text
        'Price': integer 'eurocent'
        'Price (euro)':= integer 'euro' = from 'eurocent' #'Price'
        'Order Unit Quantity': natural 'items per unit'
        'Orders': reference-set -> .'Orders' => inverse >'Product'
        'Sales Value':= integer 'eurocent' = sum <'Orders'#'Price'
        'Items Sold':= integer 'items' = count <'Orders'
    }
    'Total Sales Value':= integer 'eurocent' = sum .'Products'#'Sales Value'
    'Number of Products':= integer 'items' = count .'Products'
    'Orders': collection ['ID'] {
        'ID': text
        'Product': text -> .^ .'Products' -<'Orders'
        'Quantity': natural 'items'
        'Loss':= integer 'items' = remainder ( #'Quantity' as 'items', >'Product' #'Order Unit Quantity' )
        'Price':= integer 'eurocent' = product ( >'Product'#'Price' as 'eurocent' , #'Quantity' )
        'Order Units':= natural 'units' = division ceil ( #'Quantity' as 'items' , >'Product'#'Order Unit Quantity' )
        'Tax': integer 'eurocent'
        'Gross Price':= integer 'eurocent' = sumlist ( #'Price', #'Tax' )
        'Creation Time': integer 'date and time'
        'Estimated Lead Time': integer 'seconds'
        'Estimated Delivery Time':= integer 'date and time' = add ( #'Creation Time', #'Estimated Lead Time' )
        'Delivered': stategroup (
            'No' -> { }
            'Yes' -> {
                'Delivery Time': natural 'date and time'
                'Lead Time':= integer 'seconds' = diff ( #'Delivery Time', ?^ # 'Creation Time' )
            }
        )
    }
    'Gross Income':= integer 'eurocent' = sum .'Orders'#'Gross Price'
}
numerical-types
    'percent'
    'euro'
        = 'eurocent' * 1 * 10 ^ -2
    'eurocent'
        = 'eurocent' * 'items'
    'items per unit'
    'units'
        = 'items' / 'items per unit'
    'items'
        = 'items' / 'items per unit' // required by 'remainder'; to be fixed
    'date and time' in 'seconds'
    'seconds'
'integer expression'
	'type' stategroup (
		'singular'
			'type' stategroup (
				'value' [ 'deprecated' ]
					'value' number
				'expression'
					'expression' component 'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
			)
		'conditional' ['switch']
			'state group selection' ['(',')'] component 'calculated state group selection starting from property'
			'states' [ '(' , ')' ] collection ( ['|']
				'expression' [ '=' ] component 'conditional number expression'
			)
		'referencer anchor sum' [ 'sum' ]
			'context selection' component 'entity scoped context property selection'
			'referencer anchor' [ '<' ] reference
			'filter' component 'derivation node content path'
			'number context selection' component 'entity scoped context node selection'
			'number' [ '#' ] reference
			'conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
		'referencer anchor count' [ 'count' ]
			'context selection' component 'entity scoped context property selection'
			'referencer anchor' [ '<' ] reference
			'filter' component 'derivation node content path'
		'sum' [ 'sum' ]
			'collection selection' component 'calculated collection selection starting from property'
			'filter' component 'derivation node content path'
			'property' [ '#' ] reference
			'conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
		'count' [ 'count' ]
			'collection selection' component 'calculated collection selection starting from property'
			'filter' component 'derivation node content path'
		'remainder' [ 'remainder' ] // NOT SUPPORTED BY TYPE CHECKER
			'numerator' [ '(' ] component 'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
			'conversion rule' ['as'] reference
			'numerator conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
			'denominator set' [ ',' ] stategroup (
				'integer' [ 'unsafe' ]
				'natural'
			)
			'denominator' component 'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
			'denominator conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
			'KEYWORD' [')'] component 'KEYWORD'
		'division' [ 'division' ]
			'rounding' stategroup (
				'ordinary'
				'ceil' [ 'ceil' ]
				'floor' [ 'floor' ]
			)
			'numerator' [ '(' ] component 'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
			'conversion rule' ['as'] reference
			'numerator conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
			'denominator set' [ ',' ] stategroup (
				'integer' [ 'unsafe' ]
				'natural'
			)
			'denominator' component 'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
			'denominator conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
			'KEYWORD' [')'] component 'KEYWORD'
		'product' [ 'product' ]
			'left' [ '(' ] component 'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
			'conversion rule' ['as'] reference
			'left conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
			'right' [ ',' ] component 'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
			'right conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
			'KEYWORD' [')'] component 'KEYWORD'
		'list operation'
			'operation' stategroup (
				'sum' [ 'sumlist' ]
				'maximum' [ 'max' ]
				'minimum' [ 'min' ]
			)
			'numbers' [ '(' , ')' ] component 'signed number property list'
		'addition' ['add' '(']
			'left' component 'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
			'left conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
			'right' [ ',' ] component 'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
			'right conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
			'KEYWORD' [')'] component 'KEYWORD'
		'difference' ['diff']
			'left' [ '(' ] component 'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
			'left constraint' component 'numerical type constraint'
			'right' [ ',' ] component 'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
			'right conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
			'KEYWORD' [')'] component 'KEYWORD'
	)
'natural expression'
	'type' stategroup (
		'singular'
			'type' stategroup (
				'value' [ 'deprecated' ]
					'value' number
				'expression'
					'selected number type' stategroup (
						'integer' [ 'unsafe' ]
						'natural'
					)
					'expression' component 'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
			)
		'conditional' ['switch']
			'state group selection' ['(' , ')'] component 'calculated state group selection starting from property'
			'states' [ '(' , ')' ] collection ( ['|']
				'expression' [ '=' ] component 'conditional natural number expression'
			)
		'referencer anchor sum' [ 'sum' 'unsafe' ]
			'context selection' component 'entity scoped context property selection'
			'referencer anchor' [ '<' ] reference
			'filter' component 'derivation node content path'
			'number context selection' component 'entity scoped context node selection'
			'number' [ '#' ] reference
			'conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
		'referencer anchor count' [ 'count' 'unsafe' ]
			'context selection' component 'entity scoped context property selection'
			'referencer anchor' [ '<' ] reference
			'filter' component 'derivation node content path'
		'sum' [ 'sum' 'unsafe' ]
			'collection selection' component 'calculated collection selection starting from property'
			'filter' component 'derivation node content path'
			'property' [ '#' ] reference
			'conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
		'count' [ 'count' 'unsafe' ]
			'collection selection' component 'calculated collection selection starting from property'
			'filter' component 'derivation node content path'
		'remainder' [ 'remainder' 'unsafe' ] // NOT SUPPORTED BY TYPE CHECKER
			'numerator' [ '(' ] component 'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
			'conversion rule' ['as'] reference
			'numerator conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
			'denominator set' [ ',' ] stategroup (
				'integer' [ 'unsafe' ]
				'natural'
			)
			'denominator' component 'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
			'denominator conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
			'KEYWORD' [')'] component 'KEYWORD'
		'division' [ 'division' ]
			'rounding' stategroup (
				'ordinary' [ 'unsafe' ]
				'ceil' [ 'ceil' ]
				'floor' [ 'floor' 'unsafe' ]
			)
			'numerator type' [ '(' ] stategroup (
				'integer' [ 'unsafe' ]
				'natural'
			)
			'numerator' component 'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
			'conversion rule' ['as'] reference
			'numerator conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
			'denominator type' [ ',' ] stategroup (
				'integer' [ 'unsafe' ]
				'natural'
			)
			'denominator' component 'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
			'denominator conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
			'KEYWORD' [')'] component 'KEYWORD'
		'product' [ 'product' ]
			'left number type' [ '(' ] stategroup (
				'integer' [ 'unsafe' ]
				'natural'
			)
			'left' component 'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
			'conversion rule' ['as'] reference
			'left conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
			'right number type' [ ',' ] stategroup (
				'integer' [ 'unsafe' ]
				'natural'
			)
			'right' component 'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
			'right conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
			'KEYWORD' [')'] component 'KEYWORD'
		'list operation'
			'operation' stategroup (
				'sum' [ 'sumlist' ]
				'maximum' [ 'max' ]
				'minimum' [ 'min' ]
			)
			'numbers' [ '(' , ')' ] component 'natural number property list'
		'addition' ['add']
			'left number type' ['('] stategroup (
				'integer' [ 'unsafe' ]
				'natural'
			)
			'left' component 'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
			'left conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
			'right number type' [','] stategroup (
				'integer' [ 'unsafe' ]
				'natural'
			)
			'right' component 'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
			'right conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
			'KEYWORD' [')'] component 'KEYWORD'
		'difference' [ 'diff' 'unsafe' ]
			'left' ['('] component 'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
			'left constraint' component 'numerical type constraint'
			'right' [','] component 'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
			'right conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
			'KEYWORD' [')'] component 'KEYWORD'
	)
'numerical type constraint'
'numerical type conversion'
	'conversion' stategroup (
		'none'
			'constraint' component 'numerical type constraint'
		'factor'
			'conversion' ['from'] reference
		'base'
			'conversion' ['from' 'base'] reference
	)
'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
	'sign' stategroup (
		'negative' [ '-' ]
		'positive'
	)
	'type' stategroup (
		'input parameter'
			'context selection' component 'ancestor node selection'
			'state' stategroup ( 'state' )
			'input parameter' [ '&#' ] reference
		'number from property'
			'context selection' component 'context property selection'
			'number' [ '#' ] reference
		'number from node'
			'selection' component 'calculated node selection starting from property'
			'number' [ '#' ] reference
	)
'signed number property list'
	'selection' component 'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
	'conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
	'has element' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes' [',']
			'tail' component 'signed number property list'
	)
'natural number property list'
	'selected number type' stategroup (
		'natural'
		'integer' [ 'unsafe' ]
	)
	'selection' component 'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
	'conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
	'has element' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes' [',']
			'tail' component 'natural number property list'
	)
'conditional number expression context path'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes' [ '$^' ]
			'tail' component 'conditional number expression context path'
	)
'conditional number expression'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
			'type' stategroup (
				'value' [ 'zero' ]
				'number'
					'expression context' component 'conditional number expression context path'
					'context' stategroup (
						'target context' [ '$^' ]
							'selection' component 'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
							'conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
						'expression result'
							'sign' stategroup (
								'negative' [ '-' ]
								'positive'
							)
							'type' [ '$' ] stategroup (
								'numerical input parameter'
									'input parameter' [ '&#' ] reference
									'conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
								'number from node'
									'context type' stategroup (
										'input parameter'
											'input parameter' [ '&' ] reference
										'this state'
									)
									'selection' component 'calculated descendant node selection starting from node'
									'number' [ '#' ] reference
									'conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
							)
					)
			)
		'yes' ['switch' '(']
			'expression context' component 'conditional number expression context path'
			'type' stategroup (
				'merge' [ '$^' ]
					'state group selection' component 'calculated state group selection starting from property'
				'flatten' ['$']
					'context type' stategroup (
						'input parameter'
							'input parameter' [ '&' ] reference
						'this state'
					)
					'selection' component 'calculated descendant node selection starting from node'
					'state group' [ '?' ] reference
			)
			'KEYWORD' [')'] component 'KEYWORD'
			'states' [ '(' , ')' ] collection ( ['|']
				'expression' [ '=' ] component 'conditional number expression'
			)
	)
'conditional natural number expression context path'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes' [ '$^' ]
			'tail' component 'conditional natural number expression context path'
	)
'conditional natural number expression'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
			'type' stategroup (
				'value' [ 'one' ]
				'number'
					'selected number type' stategroup (
						'natural'
						'integer' [ 'unsafe' ]
					)
					'expression context' component 'conditional natural number expression context path'
					'context' stategroup (
						'target context' [ '$^' ]
							'selection' component 'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
							'conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
						'expression result'
							'type' [ '$' ] stategroup (
								'numerical input parameter'
									'input parameter' [ '&#' ] reference
									'conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
								'number from node'
									'context type' stategroup (
										'input parameter'
											'input parameter' [ '&' ] reference
										'this state'
									)
									'selection' component 'calculated descendant node selection starting from node'
									'number' [ '#' ] reference
									'conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
							)
					)
			)
		'yes' ['switch' '(']
			'expression context' component 'conditional natural number expression context path'
			'type' stategroup (
				'merge' [ '$^' ]
					'state group selection' component 'calculated state group selection starting from property'
				'flatten' ['$']
					'context type' stategroup (
						'input parameter'
							'input parameter' [ '&' ] reference
						'this state'
					)
					'selection' component 'calculated descendant node selection starting from node'
					'state group' [ '?' ] reference
			)
			'KEYWORD' [')'] component 'KEYWORD'
			'states' [ '(' , ')' ] collection ( ['|']
				'expression' [ '=' ] component 'conditional natural number expression'
			)
	)

Derived states

The code sample exemplifies a derived state group property Product found. The expression for deriving the state checks if the Product link produces a Products item from a Products Catalog. This Catalog is provided by an external system, via an Alan interface: the Catalog Provider.

'Catalog': group { can-update: interface 'Catalog Provider'
    'Products': collection ['Name'] {
        'Name': text
        'Price': integer 'eurocent'
    }
}
'Orders': collection ['ID'] {
    'ID': text
    // a link to a 'Products' item from the catalog provider:
    'Product': text ~> .^ .'Products'
    'Product found':= stategroup = any ( >'Product' ) (
        | true  = 'Yes' ( 'Product' => $ )
        | false = 'No'
    ) (
        'Yes' ( 'Product': +'Catalog'.'Products' ) -> {
            'Price': integer 'eurocent' = &'Product'#'Price'
        }
        'No' -> { }
    )
}
'state expression'
	'expression type' stategroup (
		'resolvable link' [ 'any' ]
			'link context selection' ['('] component 'context property selection'
			'text' [ '>' ] reference
			'KEYWORD' [')'] component 'KEYWORD'
			'yes state instantiation' [ '(' '|' 'true' '=' ] group (
				'state' reference
				'input arguments' collection ( [ '(' , ')' ]
					'type' [ '=>' ] stategroup (
						'target context'
							'selection' component 'calculated node selection starting from property'
						'expression result'
							'expression context path' component 'link text expression context path'
							'state input parameter' stategroup (
								'yes' [ '&' ]
									'input parameter' reference
								'no'
							)
							'entity node selection' component 'entity scoped context node selection'
							'selection' component 'calculated descendant node selection starting from node'
					)
				)
			)
			'no state instantiation' [ '|' 'false' '=' ] component 'state instantiation'
			'KEYWORD2' [')'] component 'KEYWORD'
		'branch match' [ 'match-branch' ]
			'branches' ['(', ')'] collection ( ['|']
				'state instantiation' [ '=' ] group (
					'state' reference
					'input arguments' collection ( [ '(' , ')' ]
						'type' [ '=>' ] stategroup (
							'target context'
								'selection' component 'calculated node selection starting from property'
							'expression result' [ '$' ]
								'expression context path' component 'traversed flatten expression'
								'state input parameter' stategroup (
									'yes' [ '&' ]
										'input parameter' reference
									'no'
								)
								'selection' component 'calculated descendant node selection starting from node'
						)
					)
				)
			)
		'containment' ['any' '(']
			'collection selection' component 'calculated collection selection starting from property'
			'dereference key' component 'dereference'
			'key path' [ '[' ,']' ] component 'calculated node selection starting from property'
			'yes state instantiation' [ ')' '(' '|' 'true' '=' ] component 'state instantiation 2'
			'no state instantiation' [ '|' 'false' '=' ] component 'state instantiation'
			'KEYWORD' [')'] component 'KEYWORD'
		'node equality' ['match' '(']
			'left node type' stategroup (
				'ancestor'
					'selection' component 'ancestor node selection'
				'sibling'
					'selection' component 'calculated node selection starting from property'
			)
			'right node' [ '==' ] component 'calculated node selection starting from property'
			'yes state instantiation' [ ')' '(' '|' 'true' '=' ] component 'state instantiation 2'
			'no state instantiation' [ '|' 'false' '=' ] component 'state instantiation 2'
			'KEYWORD' [')'] component 'KEYWORD'
		'numerical' ['match']
			'left expression' ['('] component 'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
			'operator' stategroup (
				'equal to' [ '==' ]
				'greater than' [ '>' ]
				'greater than or equal to' [ '>=' ]
				'smaller than' [ '<' ]
				'smaller than or equal to' [ '<=' ]
			)
			'right type' stategroup (
				'value'
					'value' stategroup (
						'zero' [ 'zero' ]
						'one' [ 'one' ]
					)
				'expression'
					'right expression' component 'calculated signed number selection starting from property'
					'right conversion' component 'numerical type conversion'
			)
			'yes state instantiation' [ ')' '(' '|' 'true' '=' ] component 'state instantiation'
			'no state instantiation' [ '|' 'false' '=' ] component 'state instantiation'
			'KEYWORD' [')'] component 'KEYWORD'
		'state merge' ['switch']
			'state group selection' [ '(' , ')' ] component 'calculated state group selection starting from property'
			'states' [ '(' , ')' ] collection ( ['|']
				'expression' [ '=' ] component 'conditional state group expression'
			)
		'aggregation emptiness' [ 'any' ]
			'aggregate' [ '(' , ')' ] group (
				'collection selection' component 'calculated collection selection starting from property'
				'filter' component 'derivation node content path'
			)
			'no state instantiation' [ '(' '|' 'true' '=' ] group (
				'state' reference
				'input arguments' collection ( [ '(' , ')' ]
					'type' stategroup (
						'node' [ '=>' ]
							'selection' component 'calculated node selection starting from property'
						'number'
							'operation' [ '=' ] stategroup (
								'minimum' [ 'min' ]
								'maximum' [ 'max' ]
								'standard deviation' [ 'std' ]
							)
							'expression' group (
								'descendant selection' [ '$' ] component 'calculated descendant node selection starting from node'
								'number' [ '#' ] reference
							)
					)
				)
			)
			'yes state instantiation' [ '|' 'false' '=' ] component 'state instantiation'
			'KEYWORD' [')'] component 'KEYWORD'
	)
'conditional state group expression'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
			'state' reference
			'input arguments' collection ( [ '(' , ')' ]
				'expression context' [ '=>' ] component 'conditional state group expression context path'
				'context selection' stategroup (
					'target context' [ '$^' ]
						'selection' component 'calculated node selection starting from property'
					'expression result' [ '$' ]
						'context type' stategroup (
							'input parameter'
								'input parameter' [ '&' ] reference
							'this state'
						)
						'selection' component 'calculated descendant node selection starting from node'
				)
			)
		'yes' ['switch' '(']
			'expression context' component 'conditional state group expression context path'
			'type' stategroup (
				'merge' [ '$^' ]
					'state group selection' component 'calculated state group selection starting from property'
				'flatten' ['$']
					'context type' stategroup (
						'input parameter'
							'input parameter' [ '&' ] reference
						'this state'
					)
					'selection' component 'calculated descendant node selection starting from node'
					'state group' [ '?' ] reference
			)
			'KEYWORD' [')'] component 'KEYWORD'
			'states' [ '(' , ')' ] collection ( ['|']
				'expression' [ '=' ] component 'conditional state group expression'
			)
	)
'conditional state group expression context path'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes' [ '$^' ]
			'tail' component 'conditional state group expression context path'
	)
'state instantiation'
	'state' reference
	'input arguments' collection ( [ '(' , ')' ]
		'constraint' stategroup ( 'node type' )
		'selection' [ '=>' ] component 'calculated node selection starting from property'
	)
'state instantiation 2'
	'state' reference
	'input arguments' collection ( [ '(' , ')' ]
		'context' [ '=>' ] stategroup (
			'state group property'
				'selection' component 'calculated node selection starting from property'
			'expression result node' [ '$' ]
				'selection' component 'calculated descendant node selection starting from node'
		)
	)

Derived collections

'flatten expression'
	'head' component 'group context property selection'
	'type' stategroup (
		'prefiltered'
			'type' stategroup (
				'group' [ '+' ]
					'group' reference
				'state' [ '?' ]
					'state group' reference
					'state' [ '|' ] reference
			)
			'tail' component 'flatten expression tail'
		'plural'
			'collection' ['.'] reference
			'key value source' stategroup ( 'elementary' )
			'tail' component 'flatten expression tail'
	)
'flatten expression tail'
	'head' component 'derivation node content path'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes'
			'collection' ['.'] reference
			'key value source' stategroup ( 'elementary' )
			'tail' component 'flatten expression tail'
	)
'traversed derivation node content path'
	'step back' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes'
			'type' stategroup (
				'state' [ '?^' ]
				'group' [ '+^' ]
			)
			'tail' component 'traversed derivation node content path'
	)
'traversed flatten expression'
	'traversed head' component 'traversed derivation node content path'
	'step back' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes' ['.^']
			'constraint' component 'EQ node type'
			'tail' component 'traversed flatten expression'
	)
'plural reference expression'
	'type' stategroup (
		'augment' ['map']
			'selection' component 'calculated collection selection starting from property'
			'tail' component 'derivation node content path'
		'merge' [ 'union' ]
			'aggregates' [ '(' , ')' ] collection (
				'aggregate' [ '=>' ] component 'referencer aggregate'
			)
	)
'referencer aggregate'
	'head' component 'group context property selection'
	'type' stategroup (
		'prefiltered'
			'type' stategroup (
				'group' [ '+' ]
					'group' reference
				'state' [ '?' ]
					'state group' reference
					'state' [ '|' ] reference
			)
			'tail' component 'referencer aggregate step'
		'plural'
			'collection' ['.'] reference
			'tail' component 'referencer aggregate step'
		'singular'
			'text'[ '>' ] reference
			'dereference' component 'dereference'
			'is backward' component 'EQ direction'
	)
'referencer aggregate step'
	'head' component 'derivation node content path'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
			'text' [ '>' ] reference
			'dereference' component 'dereference'
			'is backward' component 'EQ direction'
		'yes'
			'collection' ['.'] reference
			'tail' component 'referencer aggregate step'
	)

Permissions and Todos


Examples for permissions and todos:

'Users': collection ['ID']
    can-create: user ?'Type'|'Admin'
    can-delete: user ?'Type'|'Admin'
{ can-update: user ?'Type'|'Admin'
    'ID': text
    'Address': group { can-update: equal ( $ , user )
        'Street': text
        'City': text
    }
    'Type': stategroup (
        'Admin' -> { }
        'Employee' -> { }
        'Unknown' -> { has-todo: user ?'Type'|'Admin' }
    )
}
// only team members can read team information:
'Teams': collection ['Name'] { can-read: any $ .'Members' [ user ]
    'Name': text
    'Members': collection ['Member'] {
        'Member': text ~> .^ .^ .'Users'
    }
    'Description': text
}
'node permissions definition'
	'read permission' stategroup (
		'inherited'
		'explicit' ['can-read:']
			'permission' component 'permission'
	)
	'update permission' stategroup (
		'inherited'
		'explicit' ['can-update:']
			'permission' component 'permission'
	)
'item permissions definition'
	'create permission' stategroup (
		'inherited'
		'explicit' ['can-create:']
			'permission' component 'permission'
	)
	'delete permission' stategroup (
		'inherited'
		'explicit' ['can-delete:']
			'permission' component 'permission'
			'EQ modifier' component 'EQ modifier'
	)
'permission'
	'modifier' stategroup (
		'user'
			'type' stategroup (
				'unrestricted' ['unrestricted']
				'restricted'
					'requirement' component 'user requirement'
			)
		'imported interface'
			'interface' ['interface'] reference
	)
'todo definition'
	'todo' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes' ['has-todo:']
			'requirement' component 'user requirement'
	)
'user requirement'
	'type' stategroup (
		'containment' ['any']
			'context' stategroup (
				'user' ['user']
					'path' component 'conditional descendant node path'
					'collection' ['.', '['] reference
					'delink key' component 'delink'
					'key path' ['$', ']'] component 'conditional node path'
					'has filter' stategroup (
						'no'
						'yes' ['as' 'user' 'where']
							'path' ['(', ')'] component 'user requirement'
					)
				'definition' ['$']
					'path' component 'conditional node path'
					'collection' ['.', '['] reference
					'delink key' component 'delink'
					'key path' ['user', ']'] component 'conditional descendant node path'
					'has filter' stategroup (
						'no'
						'yes' ['as' '$' 'where']
							'path' ['(', ')'] component 'user requirement'
					)
			)
		'existence'
			'context' stategroup (
				'user' ['user']
				'definition' ['$']
					'head' component 'ancestor node path'
			)
			'tail' component 'conditional descendant node path'
		'equality' ['equal',')']
			'left path' ['(' 'user'] component 'conditional descendant node path'
			'right path' [ ',' '$'] component 'conditional node path'
	)
	'has alternative' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes' ['||']
			'alternative' component 'user requirement'
	)

Commands and Timers


Commands enable external systems to perform operations via an Alan interface on application data. Furthermore, commands can perform operations on other systems that other systems provide via an Alan interface. For this to work, interfaces have to be listed in the interfaces section of an application model. Also, the external command needs to be consumed by the application model, like the Place Order command in the example:

'Products': collection ['Name'] {
    'Name': text
}
'Place Order': command { 'Product': text -> .'Products' }
    external from 'Manufacturer'
'Orders': collection ['ID'] {
    'ID': text
    'Product': text -> .^ .'Products'
    'Creation Time': integer 'date and time' = creation-time
    'Status': stategroup (
        'New' -> {
            'Order from Manufacturer': command { }
                do on ^ ^ (
                    'Place Order' with ( 'Product': text = ^ .'Product' )
                ) and do on ^ (
                    'Status': stategroup = 'Waiting for Manufacturer' ( )
                )
        }
        'Delivered' -> { }
        'Delayed' -> { }
        'Waiting for Manufacturer' -> {
            'Agreed Upon Delivery Time': integer 'date and time'
                timer ontimeout do on ^ (
                    'Status': stategroup = 'Delayed' ( )
                )
        }
    )
}
// for external system 'Delivery Service':
'Register Delivery': command { 'Order': text -> .'Orders' }
    do on @ >'Order' (
        'Status': stategroup = 'Delivered' ( )
    )
'command implementation' ['do']
	'type' stategroup (
		'conditional'
			'type' stategroup (
				'state switch' [ 'switch' ]
					'type' stategroup (
						'parameter'
							'path' ['(',')'] group (
								'path' component 'ancestor parameters path'
								'state group' ['?'] reference
							)
							'states' [ '(' , ')' ] collection ( ['|']
								'implementation' component 'command implementation'
							)
						'property'
							'path' ['(',')'] group (
								'path' component 'parametrized singular node path'
								'state group' ['?'] reference
							)
							'states' ['(', ')'] collection ( ['|']
								'variable assignment' component 'optional variable assignment'
								'implementation' component 'command implementation'
							)
					)
				'contains switch' ['any']
					'contains path' ['(', ')'] group (
						'path' component 'parametrized singular node path'
						'collection' ['.'] reference
						'key' ['[',']'] component 'parametrized text expression'
					)
					'cases' ['(',')'] group (
						'true case' ['|' 'true'] group (
							'variable assignment' component 'optional variable assignment'
							'implementation' component 'command implementation'
						)
						'false case' ['|' 'false'] group (
							'implementation' component 'command implementation'
						)
					)
			)
		'map' ['map']
			'type' stategroup (
				'parameter'
					'path' component 'ancestor parameters path'
					'collection' ['.'] reference
				'property'
					'path' component 'parametrized singular node path'
					'collection' ['.'] reference
					'variable assignment' component 'optional variable assignment'
			)
			'implementation' ['(',')'] component 'command implementation'
		'update'
			'update node' component 'parametrized update node'
		'ignore' ['ignore']
	)
	'has more statements' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes' ['and']
			'statement' component 'command implementation'
	)
'parameter definition' [ '{' , '}' ]
	'parameter' component 'parameter'
	'properties' collection indent (
		'preceding siblings' collection predecessors
		'member' component 'member'
		'type' [ ':' ] stategroup (
			'collection' ['collection']
				'key property' ['[',']'] reference
				'key constraint' stategroup (
					// 'no' ( )
					'yes'
				)
				'ui' group (
					'key mapping' stategroup (
						'dense' ['@dense-map']
						'sparse'
					)
					'has description' stategroup (
						'no'
						'yes' [ '@description:' ]
							'description' text
					)
				)
				'entity' component 'entity'
				'parameters' component 'parameter definition'
			'text' [ 'text' ]
				'has constraint' stategroup (
					'no'
						'ui' group (
							'default' stategroup (
								'none'
									'sticky' stategroup (
										'yes' [ '@sticky' ]
										'no'
									)
								'guid' [ '@default:' 'guid' ]
							)
							'has validation' stategroup (
								'no'
								'yes' [ '@validate:' ]
									'rules' component 'ui text validation'
							)
							'has description' stategroup (
								'no'
								'yes' [ '@description:' ]
									'description' text
							)
						)
					'yes'
						'referencer' [ '->' ] component 'parameter referencer'
						'ui' group (
							'metadata' stategroup (
								'no'
									'sticky' stategroup (
										'yes' [ '@sticky' ]
										'no'
									)
								'yes' [ '@default:' 'user' ]
									'constraint' component 'EQ node type'
							)
							'has description' stategroup (
								'no'
								'yes' [ '@description:' ]
									'description' text
							)
						)
				)
			'number'
				'set' stategroup (
					'integer' [ 'integer' ]
					'natural' [ 'natural' ]
				)
				'numerical type' reference
				'ui' group (
					'sticky' stategroup (
						'yes' [ '@sticky' ]
						'no'
					)
					'validation' group (
						'has minimum' stategroup (
							'no'
							'yes' [ '@min:' ]
								'minimum' component 'ui number limit'
						)
						'has maximum' stategroup (
							'no'
							'yes' [ '@max:' ]
								'maximum' component 'ui number limit'
						)
					)
					'has description' stategroup (
						'no'
						'yes' [ '@description:' ]
							'description' text
					)
				)
			'file' ['file']
				'ui' group (
					'has description' stategroup (
						'no'
						'yes' [ '@description:' ]
							'description' text
					)
				)
			'state group' [ 'stategroup' ]
				'ui' group (
					'default state' stategroup (
						'no'
							'sticky' stategroup (
								'yes' [ '@sticky' ]
								'no'
							)
						'yes' [ '@default:' ]
							'state' reference
					)
					'has description' stategroup (
						'no'
						'yes' [ '@description:' ]
							'description' text
					)
				)
				'has states' stategroup has 'states' first 'first' 'yes' 'no'
				'states' [ '(' , ')' ] collection order 'view order' (
					'has successor' stategroup has successor 'successor' 'yes' 'no'
					'constraints' collection ( ['(',')']
						'expression' component 'parameter state constraint expression'
					)
					'parameters' component 'parameter definition'
				)
		)
	)
'delete node'
'parametrized update node'
	'context node path' ['on'] component 'parametrized singular node path'
	'variable assignment' component 'optional variable assignment'
	'attributes' [ '(' , ')' ] collection indent (
		'type' stategroup (
			'command'
				'arguments' [ 'with' ] component 'argument definition'
			'property' [ ':' ]
				'type' stategroup (
					'collection' ['collection']
						'operation' stategroup (
							'create' [ 'create' ]
								'initialize node' component 'parametrized initialize node'
							'delete' ['delete']
								'path' component 'parametrized singular node path'
								'delete node' component 'delete node'
						)
					'number'
						'set' stategroup (
							'integer' [ 'integer' ]
							'natural' [ 'natural' ]
						)
						'operator' stategroup (
							'increment' [ 'increment' ]
							'assignment'
								'expression' ['='] component 'parametrized number expression'
						)
					'text' [ 'text' ]
						'expression' ['='] component 'parametrized text expression'
					'file' ['file']
						'expression' ['='] component 'parametrized file expression'
					'state group' [ 'stategroup' ]
						'expression' ['='] component 'parametrized state expression'
				)
		)
	)
'parametrized initialize node' [ '(' , ')' ]
	'groups' collection indent (
		'initialize node' [ ':' 'group' ] component 'parametrized initialize node'
	)
	'texts' collection indent (
		'expression' [':' 'text' '='] component 'parametrized text expression'
	)
	'files' collection indent (
		'expression' [':' 'file' '='] component 'parametrized file expression'
	)
	'collections' collection (
		'expression' [':' 'collection' '='] component 'parametrized collection expression'
	)
	'numbers' collection indent (
		'set' stategroup (
			'integer' [ ':' 'integer' ]
			'natural' [ ':' 'natural' ]
		)
		'expression' [ '=' ] component 'parametrized number expression'
	)
	'state groups' collection indent (
		'expression' [ ':' 'stategroup' '=' ] component 'parametrized state expression'
	)
'parameter referencer' // 'parameter reference constrain expression'
	'head' component 'parametrized singular node path'
	'collection' ['.'] reference
	'tail' component 'derivation node content path'
'argument definition' [ '(' , ')' ]
	'properties' collection (
		'type' [ ':' ] stategroup (
			'collection' [ 'collection' ]
				'key constraint' stategroup (
					// 'no'
					'yes' ['=>']
						'expression' component 'parametrized collection argument expression'
				)
			'number'
				'type' stategroup (
					'integer' [ 'integer' ]
					'natural' [ 'natural' ]
				)
				'expression' ['='] component 'parametrized number expression'
			'text' [ 'text' ]
				// 'has constraint' stategroup (
				// 	'no' ['=']
				// 	'yes' ['=>']
				// )
				'expression' ['='] component 'parametrized text expression'
			'file' ['file']
				'expression' ['='] component 'parametrized file expression'
			'state group' [ 'stategroup' ]
				'expression' ['='] component 'parametrized state argument expression'
		)
	)
'ancestor parameters path'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no' ['@']
		'yes' ['@^']
			'tail' component 'ancestor parameters path'
	)
'parameter state constraint expression'
	'path' ['->'] component 'parametrized conditional node path'
'parameter entity scoped context node selection'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes'
			'type' stategroup (
				'key reference' ['>']
					'text' reference
					'dereference' component 'dereference'
				'state parent' [ '?^' ]
				'group parent' [ '+^' ]
			)
			'tail' component 'parameter entity scoped context node selection'
	)
'parametrized context node path'
	'context' stategroup (
		'command'
			'head' component 'ancestor node path'
		'variable'
			'head' component 'ancestor variable path'
			'type' stategroup (
				'variable'
			)
		'parameter'
			'head' component 'ancestor parameters path'
			'reference type' stategroup (
				'text'
					'text' [ '>' ] reference
					'tail' component 'ancestor node path'
				'state' ['&']
					'constraint' reference
			)
	)
'parametrized singular node path'
	'head' component 'parametrized context node path'
	'tail' component 'singular node path tail'
'parametrized conditional node path'
	'head' component 'parametrized context node path'
	'tail' component 'conditional descendant node path'
'parametrized text expression'
	'type' stategroup (
		'state switch' ['switch']
			'type' stategroup (
				'parameter'
					'path' ['(',')'] group (
						'path' component 'ancestor parameters path'
						'state group' ['?'] reference
					)
					'states' [ '(' , ')' ] collection ( ['|']
						'expression' ['='] component 'parametrized text expression'
					)
				'property'
					'path' ['(',')'] group (
						'path' component 'parametrized singular node path'
						'state group' ['?'] reference
					)
					'states' ['(', ')'] collection ( ['|']
						'variable assignment' component 'optional variable assignment'
						'expression' ['='] component 'parametrized text expression'
					)
			)
		'parameter'
			'path' component 'ancestor parameters path'
			'text' [ '.' ] reference
		'property'
			'path' component 'parametrized singular node path'
			'text' [ '.' ] reference
	)
'parametrized file expression'
	'type' stategroup (
		'state switch' ['switch']
			'type' stategroup (
				'parameter'
					'path' ['(',')'] group (
						'path' component 'ancestor parameters path'
						'state group' ['?'] reference
					)
					'states' [ '(' , ')' ] collection ( ['|']
						'expression' ['='] component 'parametrized file expression'
					)
				'property'
					'path' ['(',')'] group (
						'path' component 'parametrized singular node path'
						'state group' ['?'] reference
					)
					'states' ['(', ')'] collection ( ['|']
						'variable assignment' component 'optional variable assignment'
						'expression' ['='] component 'parametrized file expression'
					)
			)
		'parameter'
			'path' component 'ancestor parameters path'
			'file' [ '/' ] reference
		'property'
			'path' component 'parametrized singular node path'
			'file' [ '/' ] reference
	)
'parametrized number expression'
	'type' stategroup (
		'binary expression'
			'operation' stategroup (
				'sum' [ 'sum' ]
					'type eq' component 'type eq'
				'difference' [ 'diff' ]
				'division' [ 'division' ]
					'rounding' stategroup (
						'ordinary'
						'ceil' [ 'ceil' ]
						'floor' [ 'floor' ]
					)
					'type eq' component 'type eq'
				'product' ['product']
					'type eq' component 'type eq'
				'min' ['min']
					'type eq' component 'type eq'
				'max' ['max']
					'type eq' component 'type eq'
			)
			'expressions' [ '(' , ')' ] group (
				'left' component 'parametrized number expression'
				'right' [','] component 'parametrized number expression'
			)
		'state switch' ['switch']
			'type' stategroup (
				'parameter'
					'path' ['(',')'] group (
						'path' component 'ancestor parameters path'
						'state group' ['?'] reference
					)
					'states' [ '(' , ')' ] collection ( ['|']
						'expression' ['='] component 'parametrized number expression'
					)
				'property'
					'path' ['(',')'] group (
						'path' component 'parametrized singular node path'
						'state group' ['?'] reference
					)
					'states' ['(', ')'] collection ( ['|']
						'variable assignment' component 'optional variable assignment'
						'expression' ['='] component 'parametrized number expression'
					)
			)
		'unary expression'
			'type' stategroup (
				'natural to integer cast' ['(' 'integer' ')']
					'expression' component 'parametrized number expression'
			)
		'property'
			'path' component 'parametrized singular node path'
			'number' [ '#' ] reference
		'parameter'
			'path' component 'ancestor parameters path'
			'number' [ '#' ] reference
		'current timestamp' [ 'now' ]
		'static'
			'value' stategroup (
				'zero' [ 'zero' ]
				'one' [ 'one' ]
			)
	)
'parametrized state argument expression'
	'type' stategroup (
		'state switch' ['switch']
			'type' stategroup (
				'parameter'
					'path' ['(',')'] group (
						'path' component 'ancestor parameters path'
						'state group' ['?'] reference
					)
					'states' [ '(' , ')' ] collection ( ['|']
						'expression' ['='] component 'parametrized state argument expression'
					)
				'property'
					'path' ['(',')'] group (
						'path' component 'parametrized singular node path'
						'state group' ['?'] reference
					)
					'states' ['(', ')'] collection ( ['|']
						'variable assignment' component 'optional variable assignment'
						'expression' ['='] component 'parametrized state argument expression'
					)
			)
		'static'
			'state' reference
			'arguments' component 'argument definition'
	)
'parametrized state expression'
	'type' stategroup (
		'state switch' ['switch']
			'type' stategroup (
				'parameter'
					'path' ['(',')'] group (
						'path' component 'ancestor parameters path'
						'state group' ['?'] reference
					)
					'states' [ '(' , ')' ] collection ( ['|']
						'expression' ['='] component 'parametrized state expression'
					)
				'property'
					'path' ['(',')'] group (
						'path' component 'parametrized singular node path'
						'state group' ['?'] reference
					)
					'states' ['(', ')'] collection ( ['|']
						'variable assignment' component 'optional variable assignment'
						'expression' ['='] component 'parametrized state expression'
					)
			)
		'static'
			'state' reference
			'initialize node' component 'parametrized initialize node'
	)
'parametrized collection argument expression'
	'type' stategroup (
		'empty'
		'parameter' ['map']
			'selection' component 'ancestor parameters path'
			'collection' ['.'] reference
			'key property' ['[',']'] reference
			'context selection' ['(',')'] component 'parameter entity scoped context node selection'
			'arguments' component 'argument definition'
		'property' ['map']
			'path' component 'parametrized singular node path'
			'collection' ['.'] reference
			'key property' ['[',']'] reference
			'dereference key' component 'dereference'
			'context selection' ['(',')'] component 'parameter entity scoped context node selection'
			'variable assignment' component 'optional variable assignment'
			'arguments' component 'argument definition'
		'state switch' ['switch']
			'type' stategroup (
				'parameter'
					'path' ['(',')'] group (
						'path' component 'ancestor parameters path'
						'state group' ['?'] reference
					)
					'states' [ '(' , ')' ] collection ( ['|']
						'expression' ['='] component 'parametrized collection argument expression'
					)
				'property'
					'path' ['(',')'] group (
						'path' component 'parametrized singular node path'
						'state group' ['?'] reference
					)
					'states' ['(', ')'] collection ( ['|']
						'variable assignment' component 'optional variable assignment'
						'expression' ['='] component 'parametrized collection argument expression'
					)
			)
	)
'parametrized collection expression'
	'type' stategroup (
		'empty'
		'entry' ['create']
			'initialize node' component 'parametrized initialize node'
		'parameter' ['map']
			'selection' component 'ancestor parameters path'
			'collection' [ '.' ] reference
			'key property' ['[',']'] reference
			'initialize node' component 'parametrized initialize node'
		'property' ['map']
			'path' component 'parametrized singular node path'
			'collection' ['.'] reference
			'key property' ['[',']'] reference
			'variable assignment' component 'optional variable assignment'
			'initialize node' component 'parametrized initialize node'
		'state switch' ['switch']
			'type' stategroup (
				'parameter'
					'path' ['(',')'] group (
						'path' component 'ancestor parameters path'
						'state group' ['?'] reference
					)
					'states' [ '(' , ')' ] collection ( ['|']
						'expression' ['='] component 'parametrized collection expression'
					)
				'property'
					'path' ['(',')'] group (
						'path' component 'parametrized singular node path'
						'state group' ['?'] reference
					)
					'states' ['(', ')'] collection ( ['|']
						'variable assignment' component 'optional variable assignment'
						'expression' ['='] component 'parametrized collection expression'
					)
			)
	)

Node type identification


'node path'
	'steps' component 'node path step'
'node path step'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes'
			'type' stategroup (
				'state'
					'state group' [ '?' ] reference
					'state' [ '|' ] reference
				'group'
					'group' [ '+' ] reference
				'collection'
					'collection' [ '.' ] reference
			)
			'tail' component 'node path step'
	)

Output parameters (legacy)


Output parameter definitions are helpers/sub-expressions for navigation expressions.

'output parameters'
'output parameters definition'
	'parameters' component 'output parameters'
	'output parameters' collection ( [ '(' , ')' ]
		'dependable' component 'dependency'
		'type' stategroup (
			'elementary' [ '->' ]
				'head' component 'entity scoped context node selection'
				'selection' component 'resolved node descendant selection starting from node'
			'derived' [ '=>' ]
				'head' component 'entity scoped context node selection'
				'context type' stategroup (
					'input parameter' [ '&' ]
						'input parameter' reference
					'result node'
				)
				'selection' component 'calculated descendant node selection starting from node'
		)
	)

Examples of typical navigation steps:

.'My Text'       // select text value
/'My File'       // select file value
#'My Number'     // select number value
.'My Collection' // select collection
?'My StateGroup' // select stategroup
|'My State'      // select/require state
+'My Group'      // select group node
--
>'My Text'               // go to referenced node
>'My Text'$'Output'      // go to reference output node
&'My State ctx'           // go to state context node
?'My Stategroup'$'Output' // go to stategroup output node
--
^                // go to parent node
+^               // go to parent node from within group property
?^               // go to parent node from within stategroup property
.^               // go to parent node from within collection property
$^               // go to parent variable context
$                // select variable

Node navigation

'ancestor node path'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes' ['^']
			'tail' component 'ancestor node path'
	)
'conditional node path'
	'head' component 'ancestor node path'
	'tail' component 'conditional descendant node path'
'singular node path tail'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes'
			'type' stategroup (
				'reference'
					'text' [ '>' ] reference
					'dereference' component 'dereference'
				'output parameter'
					'text' ['>'] reference
					'dereference' component 'dereference'
					'output parameter' [ '$' ] reference
				'group' ['+']
					'group' reference
				'state group output parameter'
					'state group' ['?'] reference
					'output parameter' ['$'] reference
				'state context parameter'
					'parameter' [ '&' ] reference
			)
			'tail' component 'singular node path tail'
	)
'conditional descendant node path'
	'head' component 'singular node path tail'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes'
			'state group' ['?'] reference
			'state' ['|'] reference
			'tail' component 'conditional descendant node path'
	)

Variable assignment and navigation

'optional variable assignment'
	'has assignment' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes'
			'assignment' component 'variable assignment'
	)
'variable assignment' ['as' '$']
	'variable' component 'variable'
'ancestor variable path'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no' ['$']
		'yes' ['$^']
			'tail' component 'ancestor variable path'
	)

Shared node navigation for constraints & derivations (legacy)

'ancestor node selection'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes'
			'type' stategroup (
				'collection parent' [ '.^' ]
				'state parent' [ '?^' ]
				'group parent' [ '+^' ]
			)
			'tail' component 'ancestor node selection'
	)
'context property selection'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes'
			'type' stategroup (
				'collection parent' [ '.^' ]
				'state parent' [ '?^' ]
				'group parent' [ '+^' ]
			)
			'tail' component 'context property selection'
	)
'group node selection'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes'
			'group' [ '+' ] reference
			'tail' component 'group node selection'
	)
'entity scoped context node selection'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes'
			'type' stategroup (
				'state parent' [ '?^' ]
				'group parent' [ '+^' ]
			)
			'tail' component 'entity scoped context node selection'
	)
'resolved node selection starting from property'
	'type' stategroup (
		'input parameter'
			'type' stategroup (
				'state'
					'context selection' component 'context property selection'
					'state' stategroup (
						'state'
					)
					'input parameter' [ '&' ] reference
			)
			'tail' component 'resolved node descendant selection starting from node'
		'this node'
			'context selection' component 'context property selection'
			'type' stategroup (
				'group'
					'group' [ '+' ] reference
					'tail' component 'resolved node descendant selection starting from node'
				'state group output parameter'
					'state group' [ '?' ] reference
					'output parameter' [ '$' ] reference
				'referencer output'
					'text' [ '>' ] reference
					'is backward' stategroup ( 'is backward' )
					'output type' stategroup (
						'referenced node'
						'output parameter'
							'output parameter' [ '$' ] reference
					)
			)
	)

Node navigation for constraints (legacy)

'resolved state group selection starting from property'
	'type' stategroup (
		'state group'
			'context selection' component 'context property selection'
			'state group' [ '?' ] reference
		'node'
			'selection' component 'resolved node selection starting from property'
			'state group' [ '?' ] reference
	)
'resolved collection selection starting from property'
	'type' stategroup (
		'collection'
			'context selection' component 'context property selection'
			'collection' [ '.' ] reference
		'node'
			'selection' component 'resolved node selection starting from property'
			'collection' [ '.' ] reference
	)
'resolved node descendant selection starting from node'
	'group selection' component 'group node selection'
	'type' stategroup (
		'this node'
			'state group output parameter'
				'state group' [ '?' ] reference
				'output parameter' [ '$' ] reference
			'referencer output'
				'text' [ '>' ] reference
				'is backward' stategroup ( 'is backward' )
				'output type' stategroup (
					'referenced node'
					'output parameter'
						'output parameter' [ '$' ] reference
				)
	)
'node content path'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes'
			'type' stategroup (
				'state'
					'state group' [ '?' ] reference
					'state' [ '|' ] reference
				'group'
					'group' [ '+' ] reference
			)
			'tail' component 'node content path'
	)
'unresolved node selection'
	'type' stategroup (
		'this node'
			'context selection' component 'context property selection'
			'type' stategroup (
				'this'
				'referencer output'
					'text' [ '>' ] reference
					'is forward' stategroup ( 'is forward' )
			)
	)
	'tail' component 'group node selection'

Node navigation for derivations (legacy)

'derivation node content path'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes'
			'type' stategroup (
				'state'
					'state group' [ '?' ] reference
					'state' [ '|' ] reference
				'group'
					'group' [ '+' ] reference
			)
			'tail' component 'derivation node content path'
	)
'group context property selection'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes' [ '+^' ]
			'tail' component 'group context property selection'
	)
'entity scoped context property selection'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes'
			'type' stategroup (
				'state parent' [ '?^' ]
				'group parent' [ '+^' ]
			)
			'tail' component 'entity scoped context property selection'
	)
'calculated input parameter node selection'
	'type' stategroup (
		'state'
			'context selection' component 'ancestor node selection'
			'state' stategroup ( 'state' )
			'input parameter' [ '&' ] reference
	)
'calculated descendant node selection starting from node'
	'group selection' component 'group node selection'
	'type' stategroup (
		'this node'
		'state group output parameter'
			'state group' [ '?' ] reference
			'output parameter' [ '$' ] reference
		'referencer output'
			'text' [ '>' ] reference
			'dereference' component 'dereference'
			'output type' stategroup (
				'referenced node'
				'output parameter'
					'output parameter' [ '$' ] reference
			)
	)
'calculated descendant node selection starting from property'
	'type' stategroup (
		'group'
			'group' [ '+' ] reference
			'tail' component 'calculated descendant node selection starting from node'
		'state group output parameter'
			'state group' [ '?' ] reference
			'output parameter' [ '$' ] reference
		'referencer output'
			'text' [ '>' ] reference
			'dereference' component 'dereference'
			'output type' stategroup (
				'referenced node'
				'output parameter'
					'output parameter' [ '$' ] reference
			)
	)
'calculated node selection starting from property'
	'type' stategroup (
		'input parameter'
			'selection' component 'calculated input parameter node selection'
			'tail' component 'calculated descendant node selection starting from node'
		'this node'
			'context selection' component 'context property selection'
			'selection' component 'calculated descendant node selection starting from property'
	)

Property navigation for derivations (legacy)

'calculated collection selection starting from property'
	'type' stategroup (
		'collection'
			'context selection' component 'context property selection'
			'collection' ['.'] reference
		'node'
			'selection' component 'calculated node selection starting from property'
			'collection' ['.'] reference
	)
'calculated state group selection starting from property'
	'type' stategroup (
		'state group'
			'context selection' component 'context property selection'
			'state group' [ '?' ] reference
		'node'
			'selection' component 'calculated node selection starting from property'
			'state group' [ '?' ] reference
	)

GUI annotations


'context node selection'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes'
			'type' stategroup (
				'collection parent' [ '.^' ]
				'state parent' [ '?^' ]
				'group parent' [ '+^' ]
				'group'
					'group' [ '+' ] reference
			)
			'tail' component 'context node selection'
	)
'ui text validation'
	'regular expression' text
'ui number limit'
	'type' stategroup (
		'static'
			'limit' number
		'dynamic'
			'base' stategroup (
				'today' [ 'today' ]
				'now' [ 'now' ]
			)
			'with offset' stategroup (
				'no'
				'yes' [ '+' ]
					'offset' number
			)
	)
'ui file name expression'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes' [ '&' ]
			'type' stategroup (
				'static'
					'text' text
				'property'
					'path' component 'context node selection'
					'type' stategroup (
						'text' [ ':' ]
							'text' reference
						'number' [ '#' ]
							'number' reference
						'state group' [ '?' ]
							'state group' reference
							'states' [ '(' , ')' ] collection (
								'state file name expression' [ '(' , ')' ] component 'ui file name expression'
							)
					)
			)
			'tail' component 'ui file name expression'
	)
'ui linked node mapping path'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes'
			'type' stategroup (
				'group' [ '+' ]
					'group' reference
			)
			'tail' component 'ui linked node mapping path'
	)
'ui linked node mapping' [ '(' , ')' ]
	'properties' collection indent (
		'type' stategroup (
			'number' [ 'number' '<-' ]
				'path' component 'ui linked node mapping path'
				'number' reference
			'text' [ 'text' '<-' ]
				'path' component 'ui linked node mapping path'
				'source text' reference
			'file' [ 'file' '<-' ]
				'path' component 'ui linked node mapping path'
				'file' reference
			'group' [ 'group' ]
				'path' component 'ui linked node mapping path'
				'mapping' component 'ui linked node mapping'
			'state group' [ 'stategroup' '<-' ]
				'path' component 'ui linked node mapping path'
				'linked node state group' [ '?' ] reference
				'linked node states' [ '(' , ')' ] collection indent (
					'state' [ '->' ] reference
					'mapping' component 'ui linked node mapping'
				)
			'collection' [ 'collection' ]
		)
	)
'ui singular path'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
		'yes'
			'type' stategroup (
				'collection parent' [ '.^' ]
				'state parent' [ '?^' ]
				'group parent' [ '+^' ]
				'group' [ '+' ]
					'group' reference
				'reference' [ '>' ]
					'text' reference
					'dereference' component 'dereference'
			)
			'tail' component 'ui singular path'
	)
'ui conditional path'
	'has steps' stategroup (
		'no'
			'tail' component 'ui singular path'
		'yes'
			'head' component 'ui singular path'
			'type' stategroup (
				'state'
					'state group' [ '?' ] reference
					'state' [ '|' ] reference
			)
			'tail' component 'ui conditional path'
	)

Type checker annotation rules


The rules below are for the type checker; they do not require keywords, so you can ignore them when writing a model.

'KEYWORD'
'value source base'
'value source'
'dependency'
'direction type'
'modifier'
'type'
'set type'
'integer'
	'set type' component 'set type'
'natural'
	'set type' component 'set type'
'entity'
'member'
'variable'
'parameter'
'link'
'reference'
'delink'
	'delink' stategroup ( 'yes' )
'dereference'
	'dereference' stategroup ( 'yes' )
'linker'
	'link' component 'link'
'referencer'
	'dependable' component 'dependency'
	'reference' component 'reference'
	'linker' component 'linker'
'type eq'
'EQ modifier'
'EQ node type'
'EQ member'
'EQ direction'

Unsupported legacy rules


'log node' [ '(' , ')' ]
	'properties' collection (
		'type' [ ':' ] stategroup (
			'group' [ 'group' ]
				'node' component 'log node'
			'number' [ 'number' ]
			'state group' [ 'stategroup' ]
				'states' [ '(' , ')' ] collection (
					'node' component 'log node'
				)
			'text' [ 'text' ]
			'file' ['file']
		)
	)