Claro/docs/CURRENT_STATUS.md

Claro v1.18.26 Current Status

This file is the beginner-safe status map for the current package. It separates what is ready to use from what is historical, experimental, or still planned.

How to read the status labels

• Stable foundation: good enough for normal examples and beginner learning.
• Foundation present: usable, but still missing important polish or coverage.
• Experimental/planned: do not rely on it in beginner lessons yet.
• Historical: kept for release history, not current instructions.

Feature matrix

Beginner scripting core

Status: Stable foundation

Ready now:

• variables with SET
• output with SAY
• input with ASK
• choices with IF / ELSE / END
• loops
• lists and maps
• files, JSON, text helpers, and tested path/collection library helpers
• friendly checking with claro check

Good starting docs:

• QUICK_START.md
• FIRST_HOUR.md
• CLI.md
• SPEC.md

Functions

Status: Stable foundation

Ready now:

• simple modern form: TEACH name arg ... END
• compatibility form: TEACH name TAKES arg ... LEARNED
• calls with DO or older CALL ... WITH

Good starting docs:

• SIMPLE_FUNCTIONS.md
• README.md

Static type safety

Status: Foundation present

Ready now:

• typed variables such as SET score NUMBER 10
• TYPE OF and CHECK TYPE
• typed list/map checks through claro typecheck
• a narrow function/method argument check: CHECK TYPE parameter IS TYPE inside a function or simple object method lets claro typecheck accept correct checked calls, catch mismatched DO, CALL ... WITH, and DO object.method ... arguments, and explain when a DO object.method ... call happens before the object is created with NEW
• a narrow object-field assignment/check-type check for simple NEW Class object plus direct SET object.field value and CHECK TYPE object.field IS TYPE cases when the class declares HAS field TYPE; validation now covers correct NUMBER, TEXT, and YESNO direct assignments, direct CHECK TYPE metadata acceptance for NUMBER/TEXT/YESNO fields, negative NUMBER/TEXT/YESNO field CHECK TYPE metadata mismatches, NUMBER/TEXT/YESNO-expectation unknown-field CHECK TYPE diagnostics, missing-object field assignment and CHECK TYPE diagnostics, NUMBER/TEXT/YESNO wrong-type diagnostics, NUMBER/TEXT/YESNO-valued unknown-field diagnostics for direct assignments to undeclared fields, plus a plain beginner-facing unknown-field diagnostic when the assigned expression type is not inferable yet

Still needed:

• richer typed function signatures and return values
• type checking through branches and loops
• richer object field type checking beyond simple direct assignments
• typed imports/modules

Good starting docs:

• ADVANCED_STATIC_TYPING.md
• V1_14_STATIC_TYPES.md (feature history plus examples)

Objects and classes

Status: Foundation present

Ready now:

• CLASS
• typed HAS fields
• NEW
• field access such as player.score
• simple methods, including static diagnostics for checked method parameters
• direct object-field assignments with a narrow static diagnostic for wrong value types
• object helper commands

Still needed:

• broader object field type checking across aliases, methods, and more complex object flows
• constructor/default-value polish
• clearer object debugging and teaching examples

Good starting docs:

• V1_15_OBJECTS_CLASSES.md
• README.md

Package and project workflow

Status: Foundation present

Ready now:

• claro new
• claro package init
• claro package add/list/remove/doctor/lock
• local project files such as claro.project, claro.lock, and packages/
• package-name safety checks

Still needed:

• install from local path
• package version constraints
• publish/export format
• remote registry protocol
• checksum/signature verification before downloads

Good starting docs:

• V1_16_PACKAGES_PROJECTS.md
• PACKAGE_REGISTRY.md

Networking

Status: Foundation present

Ready now:

• beginner HTTP commands
• offline claro:// URLs for tests and lessons
• LASTHTTP
• real http:// and https:// through curl when available

Still needed:

• web server syntax
• routes
• request/response helpers
• localhost-safe server mode

Good starting docs:

• V1_17_NETWORKING.md
• WEB_SERVER_PLAN.md

Concurrency and tasks

Status: Foundation present

Ready now:

• deterministic task/concurrency helpers where documented
• beginner-safe direction toward cooperative tasks

Still needed:

• full cooperative scheduler semantics
• cancellation
• timeouts
• message passing
• decision on whether native threads should ever be exposed

Good starting docs:

• CONCURRENCY.md

IDE/editor support

Status: Foundation present

Ready now:

• claro ide
• metadata JSON
• completion list
• diagnostics helper

Still needed:

• syntax highlighting package
• editor extension
• hover help
• go-to-definition
• code actions/fixes
• full LSP server if/when useful

Good starting docs:

• IDE.md
• EDITOR_EXTENSION_PLAN.md

Graphics and SDL

Status: Experimental/planned

Ready now:

• placeholder/planned graphics documentation
• experimental examples may exist for future SDL work

Not ready in the stable executable:

• real SDL window/drawing support
• beginner game lessons that run everywhere

Good starting docs:

• GRAPHICS.md
• SDL12.md

Historical docs

Files named RC*_NOTES.md, RC*_VALIDATION.md, older V1_*_VALIDATION.md, and older release notes are kept for project history. They may mention old version numbers, old planned milestones, or old validation scripts. Use them to understand how Claro evolved; do not treat them as the current beginner path.

Which docs should a new learner trust first?

For the current v1.18.26 package, read docs in this order:

1. QUICK_START.md, FIRST_HOUR.md, and lessons/README.md for first programs.
2. README.md and this file for the current feature map.
3. ROADMAP.md for the next v1 work.

Use feature docs with these expectations:

• Ready for beginner lessons: SPEC.md, SIMPLE_FUNCTIONS.md, ERRORS.md, LINTER.md, TESTING.md, FORMATTER.md.
• Foundation present: ADVANCED_STATIC_TYPING.md, V1_14_STATIC_TYPES.md, V1_15_OBJECTS_CLASSES.md, V1_16_PACKAGES_PROJECTS.md, V1_17_NETWORKING.md, CONCURRENCY.md, IDE.md.
• Plans or experiments: PACKAGE_REGISTRY.md, WEB_SERVER_PLAN.md, EDITOR_EXTENSION_PLAN.md, GRAPHICS.md, SDL12.md, COMPLETE_PLATFORM_ROADMAP.md, FUTURE_FEATURES_ROADMAP.md.

If a doc sounds more ambitious than this status map, treat this file as the current source of truth and update the older doc before teaching from it.