Alice is equipped with an extended version of the Standard ML Basis Library. Most additional modules deal with Alice ML extensions over Standard ML.
The library is split into components. Usually, one component exports a single module (structure or functor) or signature. The components are named after the module or signature they export. Signature component names have a -sig suffix appended to avoid problems with case insensitive operating systems.
Library components are imported through URIs using the x-alice: scheme. The library is organized hierarchically as follows:
The Standard ML top-level environment is available as usual.
Components from the fundamental library, and those components of the system library that are part of the Standard ML Basis Library, are imported implicitly. Other components can be accessed through appropriate explicit import announcements. For example, a program using the Url component has to be prefixed by the following announcement:
import structure Url from "x-alice:/lib/system/Url"
The reference pages for the individual library items contain the synopsis of the appropriate import announcement for each item. Note that it is not necessary to import a signature in order to use a structure implementing that signature, although the library pages usually contain the synopsis for both. Signatures only need to be imported if used explicitly.
The interactive toplevel system imports the complete library, except /lib/gtk/, implicitly. Loading of the respective components is performed lazily.
The top-level environment contains all types, exceptions and values that are available unqualified.
Search Factory:
Search Factory:
Search Factory: