Package Initialization

3.9.8 Package Initialization

Packages are often stored in files and read into a CoCoA session using the Source command. When a package is loaded, any function whose name is Initialize will automatically be executed. For example, this feature may be used to print a message or initialized global variables when the package is read into a session.

(Note: following this rule, if the first time you access package PKG is to make an explicit call to the function PKG.Initialize() then the function will be called twice!)

Example

  Package $example
    Define Initialize()
      Print "CALLED INITIALIZE";
      MEMORY.MyVar := 17;
    EndDefine;
  EndPackage;
CALLED INITIALIZE
-------------------------------
  MEMORY.MyVar;
17
-------------------------------