Reference

Keywords

Every word the language reserves, and the one page that explains each.

Anyone who wants the whole vocabulary on one screen.

Pole reserves 24 words. The list below is the lexer's own keyword table (tools/pole/src/Lexer.cpp), plus the two words that are recognised by position rather than reserved.

Declarations#

word	what it does	more
`processor`	declares a processor — the unit that makes sound	Program structure
`graph`	declares a graph, which wires processors together	Graphs
`node`	names an instance of a processor inside a graph	Graphs
`connection`	the block that holds a graph's wires	Graphs
`input` / `output`	declares an endpoint	Endpoints
`stream`	an endpoint carrying a number every sample	Endpoints
`event`	an endpoint carrying a record at a frame	Events
`param`	an input with a name, default and range	Parameters
`smooth`	a time constant on a parameter	Parameters
`external`	a buffer the host owns	State

Types#

word	what it does	more
`float`	32-bit float; `float<2>` is a vector of two	Types
`int`	32-bit integer	Types
`void`	the return type of `main` and of a procedure	Functions

Values#

word	what it does	more
`let`	an immutable local	Variables
`var`	a mutable local	Variables

Control flow#

word	what it does	more
`loop`	the frame loop; ends each pass with `advance()`	Program structure
`for`	a bounded loop with a constant trip count	Control flow
`while`	a loop capped by the safety pass	Control flow
`if` / `else`	a branch	Control flow
`break`	leaves the nearest bounded loop	Control flow
`return`	returns from a function — never from `main`	Functions
`every`	runs a body once every N frames	Control flow
`wrap`	the index type of a bounded `for`	Control flow

Recognised by position, not reserved#

init, on, advance, and the event payload names note, cc and bend are matched where they appear rather than reserved as words. That is why let on = gate > 0.5f; and let note = 60.0f; keep working — both already appear in shipped code.

word	what it does	more
`init`	state built once, before the first frame	State and init
`on`	an event handler	Handlers
`advance()`	ends the frame	Program structure
`note` `cc` `bend`	event payload types	Events

Not in the language#

No struct, no class, no string, no switch, no goto, no %, no pointers, no new. Recursion is rejected (POLE0603) and every loop is bounded — which is what makes a patch from a stranger safe to compile and run.