[NopInstruction::] The Nop Construct. Defining the nop construct. @h Definition. This instruction does nothing at all, has no textual representation and is nevertheless useful when constructing Inter in memory. It exists as a convenience used by Inform when it needs to write simultaneously to multiple positions within the same node's child list -- the idea being that a nop statement acts as a divider. For example, by placing the A write position just before a nop N, and the B write position just after, Inform will generate A1, A2, A3, ..., N, B1, B2, ..., rather than (say) A1, B1, A2, A3, B2, ... The extra N is simply ignored in code generation, so it causes no problems to have it. = void NopInstruction::define_construct(void) { inter_construct *IC = InterInstruction::create_construct(NOP_IST, I"nop"); InterInstruction::data_extent_always(IC, 0); InterInstruction::allow_in_depth_range(IC, 0, INFINITELY_DEEP); InterInstruction::permit(IC, OUTSIDE_OF_PACKAGES_ICUP); InterInstruction::permit(IC, INSIDE_PLAIN_PACKAGE_ICUP); InterInstruction::permit(IC, INSIDE_CODE_PACKAGE_ICUP); METHOD_ADD(IC, CONSTRUCT_WRITE_MTID, NopInstruction::write); } @h Instructions. In bytecode, the frame of a |nop| instruction consists only of the two compulsory words -- see //Inter Nodes//. = inter_error_message *NopInstruction::new(inter_bookmark *IBM, inter_ti level, inter_error_location *eloc) { inter_tree_node *P = Inode::new_with_0_data_fields(IBM, NOP_IST, eloc, level); inter_error_message *E = VerifyingInter::instruction(InterBookmark::package(IBM), P); if (E) return E; NodePlacement::move_to_moving_bookmark(P, IBM); return NULL; } @h Writing to textual Inter syntax. The |nop| construct is not expressible in textual Inter, but can be printed out all the same, purely so that a stack backtrace will show it. = void NopInstruction::write(inter_construct *IC, OUTPUT_STREAM, inter_tree_node *P) { WRITE("nop"); }