Panther Value Stages

All expressions have a value stage which dictate which stage of compilation it may be used in.

Constexpr Value Stage

Constexpr values are values that are known at compile-time and can be used as constexpr expressions. Anywhere that requires a comptime or a runtime value also accept constexpr values.

The following are constexpr expressions:

• literals
• def variables
• template parameters
• constexpr function calls with all arguments being constexpr

Comptime Value Stage

Comptime values are values that may be used inside a constexpr function but are not constexpr themselves. Anywhere that requires a runtime values also accept comptime values.

The following are comptime expressions:

• global const variables
• const variables defined in a constexpr function
• var variables defined in a constexpr function
• function parameters in a constexpr function
• return parameters in a constexpr function
• error parameters in a constexpr function
• constexpr function calls with all arguments being constexpr and/or comptime (must have at least 1 comptime parameter, or else it's constexpr)

Runtime Value Stage

Runtime values are values that may only be used at runtime as they are not known and/or cannot be calculated at compile-time. Anywhere that that requires a runtime value also accept comptime and constexpr values.

The following are runtime expressions:

• global var variables
• var variables and const variables declared in function scope
• calls to external functions that are unknown / not linked in by the build system
• calls to runtime functions
• calls to comptime functions with at least 1 runtime argument