/usr/lib/swi-prolog/doc/Manual/quickstart.html

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<h2 id="sec:quickstart"><a id="sec:2.1"><span class="sec-nr">2.1</span> <span class="sec-title">Getting 
started quickly</span></a></h2>

<a id="sec:quickstart"></a>

<p><h3 id="sec:startpl"><a id="sec:2.1.1"><span class="sec-nr">2.1.1</span> <span class="sec-title">Starting 
SWI-Prolog</span></a></h3>

<a id="sec:startpl"></a>

<p><h4 id="sec:startunix"><a id="sec:2.1.1.1"><span class="sec-nr">2.1.1.1</span> <span class="sec-title">Starting 
SWI-Prolog on Unix</span></a></h4>

<a id="sec:startunix"></a>

<p>By default, SWI-Prolog is installed as `swipl'. The command line 
arguments of SWI-Prolog itself and its utility programs are documented 
using standard Unix <b>man</b> pages. SWI-Prolog is normally operated as 
an interactive application simply by starting the program:

<pre class="code">
machine% swipl
Welcome to SWI-Prolog ...
...

1 ?-
</pre>

<p>After starting Prolog, one normally loads a program into it using
<a id="idx:consult1:6"></a><a class="pred" href="consulting.html#consult/1">consult/1</a>, 
which may be abbreviated by putting the name of the program file between 
square brackets. The following goal loads the file
<code>likes.pl</code> containing clauses for the predicates likes/2 :

<pre class="code">
?- [likes].
% likes compiled, 0.00 sec, 17 clauses
true.

?-
</pre>

<p>After this point, Unix and Windows users unite, so if you are using 
Unix please continue at <a class="sec" href="quickstart.html">section 
2.1.2</a>.

<p><h4 id="sec:startwin"><a id="sec:2.1.1.2"><span class="sec-nr">2.1.1.2</span> <span class="sec-title">Starting 
SWI-Prolog on Windows</span></a></h4>

<a id="sec:startwin"></a>

<p>After SWI-Prolog has been installed on a Windows system, the 
following important new things are available to the user:

<p>
<ul class="latex">
<li>A folder (called <em>directory</em> in the remainder of this 
document) called <code>swipl</code> containing the executables, 
libraries, etc., of the system. No files are installed outside this 
directory.
<li>A program <b>swipl-win.exe</b>, providing a window for interaction 
with Prolog. The program <b>swipl.exe</b> is a version of SWI-Prolog 
that runs in a console window.
<li>The file extension <code>.pl</code> is associated with the program
<b>swipl-win.exe</b>. Opening a <code>.pl</code> file will cause
<b>swipl-win.exe</b> to start, change directory to the directory in 
which the file to open resides, and load this file.
</ul>

<p>The normal way to start the <code>likes.pl</code> file mentioned in
<a class="sec" href="quickstart.html">section 2.1.1.1</a> is by simply 
double-clicking this file in the Windows explorer.

<p><h3 id="sec:execquery"><a id="sec:2.1.2"><span class="sec-nr">2.1.2</span> <span class="sec-title">Executing 
a query</span></a></h3>

<a id="sec:execquery"></a>

<p>After loading a program, one can ask Prolog queries about the 
program. The query below asks Prolog what food `sam' likes. The system 
responds with <code>X = &lt;<var>value</var>&gt;</code> if it can prove 
the goal for a certain
<var>X</var>. The user can type the semi-colon (;) or spacebar<sup class="fn">6<span class="fn-text">On 
most installations, single-character commands are executed without 
waiting for the <span style="font-variant:small-caps">RETURN</span> key.</span></sup> 
if (s)he wants another solution. Use the <span style="font-variant:small-caps">return</span> 
key if you do not want to see the more answers. Prolog completes the 
output with a full stop (.) if the user uses the <span style="font-variant:small-caps">return</span> 
key or Prolog
<em>knows</em> there are no more answers. If Prolog cannot find (more) 
answers, it writes <b>false.</b> Finally, Prolog answers using an error 
message to indicate the query or program contains an error.

<pre class="code">
?- likes(sam, X).
X = dahl ;
X = tandoori ;
...
X = chips.

?-
</pre>

<p>Note that the answer written by Prolog is a valid Prolog program 
that, when executed, produces the same set of answers as the original 
program.<sup class="fn">7<span class="fn-text">The SWI-Prolog top level 
differs in several ways from traditional Prolog top level. The current 
top level was designed in cooperation with Ulrich Neumerkel.</span></sup>

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swi-prolog-nox 6.6.4-2ubuntu1 / usr / lib / swi-prolog / doc / Manual / quickstart.html
