Syntax & Variables

Kafal operates on a vectorized runtime, meaning variables automatically represent entire time-series arrays without the need for manual iteration.

Standard Assignment

Variables are declared using the standard = operator. Mathematical operations and indicator calls apply to the entire historical dataset simultaneously.

// Standard assignment
len_fast = 10
len_slow = 30

// Calling built-in technical indicators
fast_ma = ta.sma(close, len_fast)
slow_ma = ta.sma(close, len_slow)

// Boolean logic
is_bullish = fast_ma > slow_ma

The Pipe Operator

When chaining multiple functions, Kafal utilizes a functional pipe operator (|) to keep logic linear. Use the pipe assignment operator (=>) to bind the result.

// Using the Pipe Operator (clean and linear)
// The value on the left is passed as the first argument to the next function.
signal => close | ta.rsi(14) | zscore(50) | math.abs()

Historical Referencing

To reference previous values in a time-series, use the historical bracket operator [n].

// Get the close price from 1 bar ago
prev_close = close[1]

// Check if the current close is higher than the previous close
is_rising = close > close[1]

Note: Under the hood, the Kafal AST securely intercepts this syntax and converts it into a safe memory lookup history(series, n).