Verisyntax — User Manual (prototype 0.1)

Verisyntax in five minutes

Verisyntax is a declarative language. You describe data, relationships, rules, questions, and probabilistic models. You do not write the low-level sequence of operations normally required in C++.

A program may contain:

1. A database describing a SQLite file or PostgreSQL connection profile.
2. A source describing one typed physical table.
3. A dataset selecting, filtering, or joining sources.
4. Facts, rules, ask queries, and Bayesian declarations.

Important writing rules:

• Keywords are English.
• Block indentation is exactly two spaces. Tabs are rejected.
• Declaration headers such as database local: end with a colon.
• Logic facts and rule heads do not end with a period or colon.
• Logic variables begin with an uppercase letter: X, Who, or Customer.
• Comments begin with #.