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History

2005/10/12	Title: NodeBrain Tutorial Author: Ed Trettevik <eat@nodebrain.org> Publisher: The Boeing Company

	Release 0.6.3 (Not released to SourceForge. Combined with 0.6.4 release.) · This document, like the software it describes, is a “prototype” version. Revisions will be made in response to user feedback. · Started with operating mode tutorial

2006/04/04	Release 0.6.4 · Included interface examples of release 0.6.4 enhancements. · Included cell expression and ignorance tutorials

Preface

This tutorial is intended for readers seeking an introduction to NodeBrain through a series of simple examples. Other documents are available for readers looking for a more complete reference to the language, modules or API.

The intent of the examples in this tutorial is to illustrate individual concepts, not to provide complete working applications or show all related options. We avoid formal syntax descriptions, thinking that you are here because you want to figure it out from the examples.

The files referenced in this tutorial will be included in a tutorial directory in future NodeBrain release files. We were not finished fiddling with them at the time 0.6.4 release files were created. Consequently you will have to cut an paste from this document to experiment with examples for now.

See www.nodebrain.org for more information and the latest update to this document.

Documents:

NodeBrain Tutorial

NodeBrain User Guide

NodeBrain Language Reference

NodeBrain Module Reference

NodeBrain API Reference

Document Conventions

Sample code and input/output examples are shown in shaded boxes. We use a bit darker shading for input/output associated with programs other than NodeBrain. In the following example the first and last line are associated with the host shell and the lines in between are input or output unique to NodeBrain.

$ nb

@> define myFirstRule on(a=1 and b=2) mood=”happy”;

@> assert mood=”sad”;

@> show mood

mood = “sad”

@> assert a=1,b=2,c=3;

2005/10/12 18:40:48 NB000I Rule myFirstRule fired (mood="happy")

@> show mood

mood = “happy”

@> quit

When we want to bring your addition to specific test, it is shown in bold like the DEFINE command in the example above.

Although the installed path for NodeBrain is “/usr/local/bin/nb” on a Unix or Linux system, we reference it as “./nb” in this tutorial. This is because the tutorial scripts are designed to run from the tutorial directory of a binary or source release file without requiring you to install NodeBrain on your system. Perhaps you don’t have the authority to install it or want to experiment before you decide. In any case, if you use a tutorial scripts as an example for your own scripts, remember to change the she-bang line.

Tutorial she-bang:

#!./nb

Normal she-bang:

#!/usr/local/bin/nb