Scripting Languages

Python, Ruby, PHP, Lua, R, and Bash support in Sitting Duck.

Language Nuances

Extraction Quality Summary

Language	Functions	Classes	Calls	Variables	Body Detection	Overall
Python	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐	⭐⭐⭐	Good
Ruby	⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐	⭐⭐⭐	Good
PHP	⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐	⭐⭐⭐	Good
Lua	⭐	⭐	⭐	⭐	⭐⭐⭐	Needs Work
R	⭐⭐	⭐	⭐⭐	⭐	⭐⭐	Basic
Bash	⭐⭐	N/A	⭐⭐	⭐	⭐⭐⭐	Basic

Implementation Notes

• Python Classes: Excellent class extraction including inheritance detection and abstract class identification (ABC subclasses).
• Ruby Bodies: Uses body_statement for method bodies - correctly detects all method implementations.
• PHP Keywords: The function keyword is marked as IS_SYNTAX_ONLY to avoid counting it as a function definition.
• R Lambdas: Lambda expressions use braced_expression bodies with ~84% detection accuracy.

Known Limitations

• Python Type Hints: Type hints are parsed but not fully extracted into signature_type.
• Ruby Blocks: Block parameters (do |x|) are parsed but parameter extraction is limited.
• PHP Closures: Anonymous functions (function() use ($var)) are detected but captured variables not extracted.
• Lua Parameters: Function parameters show as empty array [] - needs native extractor implementation.
• R Functions: Dynamic typing means no type information available; variable extraction is minimal.
• Bash: No class support (N/A); function and variable extraction is basic.

Body Detection Details

Language	Body Type	Accuracy	Notes
Python	block	⭐⭐⭐	Indentation-based blocks work correctly
Ruby	body_statement	⭐⭐⭐	Fixed in recent update
PHP	compound_statement	⭐⭐⭐	function keyword properly excluded
Lua	block	⭐⭐⭐	Works correctly
R	braced_expression	⭐⭐	~84% accuracy for lambdas
Bash	compound_statement	⭐⭐⭐	Works correctly

---

Python

Extensions: .py Identifier: 'python'

Common Node Types

Type	Semantic Type	Description
function_definition	DEFINITION_FUNCTION	Functions
async_function_definition	DEFINITION_FUNCTION	Async functions
class_definition	DEFINITION_CLASS	Classes
decorated_definition	METADATA_ANNOTATION	Decorated items
import_statement	EXTERNAL_IMPORT	Imports
import_from_statement	EXTERNAL_IMPORT	From imports

Examples

-- Find all functions
SELECT name, start_line
FROM read_ast('**/*.py')
WHERE type = 'function_definition';

-- Find decorated functions
SELECT name, peek
FROM read_ast('**/*.py')
WHERE type = 'function_definition'
  AND parent_id IN (SELECT node_id FROM read_ast('**/*.py') WHERE type = 'decorated_definition');

-- Find class methods
SELECT c.name as class_name, f.name as method_name
FROM read_ast('test/data/python/sample_app.py') c
JOIN read_ast('test/data/python/sample_app.py') f ON f.parent_id = c.node_id
WHERE c.type = 'class_definition'
  AND f.type = 'function_definition';

---

Ruby

Extensions: .rb Identifier: 'ruby'

Common Node Types

Type	Semantic Type	Description
method	DEFINITION_FUNCTION	Methods
class	DEFINITION_CLASS	Classes
module	DEFINITION_MODULE	Modules
call	COMPUTATION_CALL	Method calls

Examples

-- Find methods
SELECT name, start_line
FROM read_ast('**/*.rb')
WHERE type = 'method';

-- Find classes
SELECT name
FROM read_ast('**/*.rb')
WHERE type = 'class';

-- Find modules
SELECT name
FROM read_ast('**/*.rb')
WHERE type = 'module';

---

PHP

Extensions: .php Identifier: 'php'

Common Node Types

Type	Semantic Type	Description
function_definition	DEFINITION_FUNCTION	Functions
method_declaration	DEFINITION_FUNCTION	Methods
class_declaration	DEFINITION_CLASS	Classes
interface_declaration	DEFINITION_CLASS	Interfaces
namespace_definition	DEFINITION_MODULE	Namespaces

Examples

-- Find classes
SELECT name, start_line
FROM read_ast('**/*.php')
WHERE type = 'class_declaration';

-- Find methods
SELECT name
FROM read_ast('**/*.php')
WHERE type = 'method_declaration';

-- Find namespaces
SELECT peek
FROM read_ast('**/*.php')
WHERE type = 'namespace_definition';

---

Lua

Extensions: .lua Identifier: 'lua'

Common Node Types

Type	Semantic Type	Description
function_declaration	DEFINITION_FUNCTION	Functions
local_function	DEFINITION_FUNCTION	Local functions
variable_declaration	DEFINITION_VARIABLE	Variables
function_call	COMPUTATION_CALL	Calls

Examples

-- Find functions
SELECT name, start_line
FROM read_ast('**/*.lua')
WHERE type IN ('function_declaration', 'local_function');

-- Find local variables
SELECT name
FROM read_ast('**/*.lua')
WHERE type = 'variable_declaration';

---

R

Extensions: .r, .R Identifier: 'r'

Common Node Types

Type	Semantic Type	Description
function_definition	DEFINITION_FUNCTION	Functions
left_assignment	DEFINITION_VARIABLE	Assignments
call	COMPUTATION_CALL	Function calls

Examples

-- Find function definitions
SELECT name, start_line
FROM read_ast('**/*.R')
WHERE type = 'function_definition';

-- Find variable assignments
SELECT peek
FROM read_ast('analysis.R')
WHERE type = 'left_assignment';

---

Bash

Extensions: .sh, .bash Identifier: 'bash'

Common Node Types

Type	Semantic Type	Description
function_definition	DEFINITION_FUNCTION	Functions
variable_assignment	DEFINITION_VARIABLE	Assignments
command	COMPUTATION_CALL	Commands
if_statement	FLOW_CONDITIONAL	If statements
for_statement	FLOW_LOOP	For loops

Examples

-- Find functions
SELECT name, start_line
FROM read_ast('**/*.sh')
WHERE type = 'function_definition';

-- Find variable assignments
SELECT peek
FROM read_ast('script.sh')
WHERE type = 'variable_assignment';

-- Find commands
SELECT peek
FROM read_ast('script.sh')
WHERE type = 'command';

Cross-Scripting Analysis

-- Compare scripting language patterns
SELECT
    language,
    COUNT(CASE WHEN semantic_type = 'DEFINITION_FUNCTION' THEN 1 END) as functions,
    COUNT(CASE WHEN semantic_type = 'DEFINITION_VARIABLE' THEN 1 END) as variables,
    COUNT(*) as total_nodes
FROM read_ast(['**/*.py', '**/*.rb', '**/*.php', '**/*.lua'], ignore_errors := true)
GROUP BY language
ORDER BY total_nodes DESC;