Sprout for Python programmers

The common Python constructs and their Sprout equivalents, side by side, with the few places the two differ.

If you have written a little Python, most of Sprout will already feel familiar. This page lines up the common constructs. Every Sprout example on it runs as written under tendril run, so you can paste it into a file and try it.

Start with three values that the examples below use:

x = 3
xs = [10, 20, 30]
pos = {x: 3, y: 4}

Common constructs

Python	Sprout
`print("hi", x)`	`say "hi", x`
`x = 3`	`x = 3`
`x += 1`	`x += 1`
`# a note`	`# a note`
`xs[0]`	`xs[0]`
`xs[-1]`	`xs[-1]`
`len(xs)`	`len(xs)`
`{"x": 3, "y": 4}`	`{x: 3, y: 4}`
`pos["x"]`	`pos.x`
`f"I have {x} coins"`	`"I have {x} coins"`
`(1 < 2) and not (2 < 1)`	`(1 < 2) and not (2 < 1)`
`20 in xs`	`20 in xs`
`7 // 2`	`7 / 2`
`7 % 3`	`7 % 3`
`xs.append(40)`	`append(xs, 40)`

Blocks

Blocks work the same way as in Python. Indent the lines under if, elif, else, for, while and define.

if x > 3:
    say "big"
elif x == 3:
    say "three"
else:
    say "small"

n = 0
while n < 3:
    n += 1

for i from 0 to 4:
    say i

for each item in [1, 2]:
    say item

define double(a):
    return a * 2

say double(5)

for i from 0 to 9:
    if i == 1:
        continue
    if i == 3:
        break
    say "loop", i

Where Sprout differs

Output is say. It takes values separated by commas, and it prints them with spaces between.
from ... to includes both ends. for i from 0 to 4 gives 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4, where Python’s range(5) stops before 5.
Loops over a list read for each. Write for each item in xs:.
Division rounds down with /. There is no //, because / already does what Python’s // does on whole numbers.
Numbers are whole. Sprout has no decimals, so use whole-number maths, or scale your numbers up.
Records replace dictionaries. Read a field as pos.x or pos["x"].
Commands don’t need brackets, questions do. harvest and plant carrot are commands. scan() and capacity() are questions, and they need brackets even inside a bigger expression.

For the whole language on one page, see Learn Sprout. For every command and question your bots can use, see the reference.