obj: The Surface Form

`obj`: The Surface Form

The surface form for object construction. Keywords become property names, values follow each keyword.

The Basics

(bind user (obj
  :name "Duncan"
  :age 42
  :active true))

const user = {name: "Duncan", age: 42, active: true};

How It Works

Keywords → string property names: :name compiles to "name". camelCase conversion applies: :first-name → "firstName".

Keyword-value alternation: keyword, value, keyword, value. No commas in the source. No colons (in lykn — the JS output has them). No braces.

Expressions as values: any expression can be a value:

(bind receipt (obj
  :total (* price quantity)
  :tax (* price quantity tax-rate)
  :timestamp (Date:now)))

Nested objects:

(bind user (obj
  :name "Duncan"
  :address (obj :city "London" :zip "W1")))

`obj` vs Kernel `object`

The kernel form uses grouped pairs:

;; Kernel: grouped (key value) pairs
(object (name "Duncan") (age 42))

;; Surface: keyword-value alternation
(obj :name "Duncan" :age 42)

Both compile to {name: "Duncan", age: 42}. Use obj in surface code — keywords are self-documenting and get camelCase conversion. Use object in kernel passthrough contexts (class bodies) or when you need computed keys in key position.

Keyboard shortcuts

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