A Brief Introduction

Welcome to Sheerpower Programming

Sheerpower is a programming language designed for business applications. It offers fast compilation, accurate math (16 decimal digits of guaranteed accuracy), and a simple syntax. Developers can build scalable, efficient programs for handling large volumes of data.

This tutorial introduces key features of Sheerpower, such as high-precision math, fast compiling, dynamic data clustering, and a built-in web server.

Examples

Program Declaration

Optionally, every Sheerpower program can begin with a PROGRAM statement to assign a name to the program. This name is used in crash reports, profiling, and other system-generated files.

Stopping the Program

Use STOP or END to end a Sheerpower program. Both are optional. They close open files, flush buffers, unlock resources, and stop execution.

END also marks the logical end of the source file. If it’s missing, Sheerpower automatically inserts it at the end of your code.

Optimized Decimal-Precise Arithmetic

Sheerpower’s REAL data type uses optimized decimal-precise arithmetic, storing numbers as two 64-bit integers—one for the integer part (up to 18 digits) and one for the fractional part (up to 16 digits)—to deliver exact decimal results without rounding errors. This precision is critical for business and financial applications, where small errors can lead to significant issues. By using integer-based operations for addition, subtraction, and multiplication it achieves high performance compared to traditional decimal arithmetic.

For example, adding 0.1 and 0.2 in Sheerpower yields exactly 0.3, avoiding the floating-point inaccuracies common in other languages. This reduces the need for tolerance-based comparisons often required to handle binary floating-point imprecision.

This ensures reliable calculations for applications like financial software.

Sub-Second Compilation

Sheerpower compiles at over 500,000 source lines per second on a modern PC - meaning even large business applications compile within a second or two. For example, a recent build of 872,133 lines, with 419 include files, compiled in under 2 seconds on a $1200 mini-server. This compiling speed, reduces the traditional compile-wait-test cycle that can slow development.

High-Performance Data Clusters

Sheerpower's cluster feature works like an in-memory spreadsheet, processing hundreds of thousands to millions of rows per second depending on data complexity and available system resources.

Comprehensive Statistics Package

Sheerpower includes a built-in statistics package with over 30 functions for analyzing data. These functions can be used to identify trends, variability, and relationships in large datasets. Applications include finance, manufacturing, science, and more. For details, see Sheerpower Statistics .

Web Server Integration

Sheerpower includes a built-in web server designed for memory-to- memory data transfers. This allows fast transactions with low resource usage.

Summary

Sheerpower is designed for business applications, with a focus on speed, precision, and long-term reliability. It is not intended for system-level programming or memory-limited environments. Key features include:

1. High-Precision Math: Useful for financial and data-focused applications.
2. High-Speed Compilation: Supports fast development and quick testing cycles.
3. Clusters for Data Processing: Handles large datasets efficiently.
4. Local Routines: Encourages modular code and easier maintenance.
5. Integrated Web Server: Supports many transactions per second with low resource use.
6. Backward Compatibility: Reduces maintenance and supports legacy code.
7. Secure Deployment: Protects source code from prying eyes and enables secure, fast, portable distribution—ideal for commercial software.