ATOMIC AI FUNCTIONS SPEC (EN)

SCOPE
RULE: This document defines the complete and binding function system of the Atomic language.
RULE: All rules defined here are mandatory.
RULE: This specification applies to standard functions and user-defined functions.

FUNCTION DEFINITION
RULE: A function in Atomic is a named operation.
RULE: All functions use the arrow syntax.

SYNTAX:
function name --> (ARGUMENT: value) (ARGUMENT: value)
RULE: The arrow --> is mandatory.
RULE: Functions may affect program state or produce a value.

FUNCTIONS AND EXPRESSIONS
RULE: Atomic operations are expressed using a combination of:
expressions
functions
syntactic constructs
RULE: Only functions use the arrow syntax -->.

FUNCTION CATEGORIES (SEMANTIC)
RULE: Atomic distinguishes two semantic categories of functions:
functions that return no value
functions that return a value
RULE: The distinction is semantic, not syntactic.
RULE: The term "command" is only a didactic simplification and has no formal meaning.

FUNCTIONS WITHOUT RETURN VALUE
RULE: A function without return value:
performs an action
may produce visible effects
does not return any value
cannot be assigned to a variable
cannot be used in expressions
may appear alone as an instruction
FORBIDDEN: Assigning the result of a non-returning function.

FUNCTIONS WITH RETURN VALUE
RULE: A function returns a value if and only if its name starts with:
ottieni
RULE: All and only functions whose name starts with "ottieni" return a value.
RULE: A value-returning function:
must be used through assignment
cannot appear alone
cannot be used as an argument
cannot be nested

USAGE OF VALUE-RETURNING FUNCTIONS
ALLOWED:
variable = ottieni something --> (ARGUMENT: value)
FORBIDDEN:
using a value-returning function without assignment
using a value-returning function as an argument
nesting a value-returning function inside expressions
nesting any function call

FUNCTION ARGUMENTS
RULE: Function arguments are name-value pairs.
RULE: Arguments are enclosed in parentheses.
RULE: Argument order is irrelevant.
RULE: Arguments have default values.
RULE: If an argument is omitted, its default value is used.
RULE: Argument names may contain spaces.

ALLOWED ARGUMENT VALUE TYPES
RULE: Only the following are allowed as argument values:
numbers
text strings
constants
variables
mathematical expressions
FORBIDDEN:
functions as argument values
nested function calls
any function call inside arguments

STANDARD FUNCTIONS
RULE: Standard functions are part of the Atomic language.
RULE: Standard functions are documented in official thematic reference files.
RULE: All standard functions obey the rules defined in this specification.
RULE: If a function is not documented in official files, it is not part of the language.

USER-DEFINED FUNCTIONS
RULE: Atomic allows user-defined functions.
SYNTAX:
definisci funzione "function name"
{
code
}
RULE: User-defined functions follow the same rules as standard functions.
USER-DEFINED FUNCTIONS WITHOUT RETURN VALUE
RULE: A user-defined function without additional rules does not return any value.
RULE: It behaves exactly like a standard non-returning function.
USER-DEFINED FUNCTIONS WITH RETURN VALUE
RULE: A user-defined function returns a value if and only if:
its name starts with "ottieni"
its definition explicitly contains the phrase:
"con questa funzione ottieni ..."
RULE: Both conditions are mandatory.
RULE: If either condition is missing, the function returns no value.

USER-DEFINED FUNCTION ARGUMENTS
RULE: User-defined functions may use symbolic arguments.
RULE: Symbolic arguments are referenced using:
<"ARGUMENT NAME">
RULE: Symbolic arguments:
represent passed values
are not global variables
are only accessible inside the function body

FORMAL PROHIBITIONS
FORBIDDEN:
using a function as an argument
nesting function calls
using a value-returning function without assignment
assigning the result of a non-returning function
RULE: These prohibitions are part of the language syntax.

FUNCTION CATEGORIZATION
RULE: Atomic functions are organized into thematic categories.
RULE: Categories are documented in separate reference files.
RULE: This document does not list individual function names.

LANGUAGE CLOSURE (FUNCTION SYSTEM)
RULE: No functions exist beyond those documented in official Atomic files.
RULE: If a name does not appear in official documentation:
it is not a function
it is not part of the Atomic language
RULE: The function system is closed.