Starting a function automatically at script startup

[thomastthai]

I came across a code by @lexikos to have a function called automatically upon the script startup. I read about functions from the manual and did some Googling. Unfortunately, I'm still at a loss for why this works. Would someone mind help explain?

Code: Select all

init_this_file() {
    static _ := init_this_file()
    /*
    This function is called automatically when the script starts,
    regardless of where it is #included.
    */
}

Thank you in advance.

Thomas

[TAC109]

Look up static in the documentation.

In particular (see bold section):

Static Initializers: In versions prior to 1.0.46, all static variables started off blank; so the only way to detect that one was being used for the first time was to check whether it was blank. [v1.0.46+]: A static variable may be initialized to something other than "" by following it with := or = followed by one of the following: true, false, a literal integer, a literal floating point number, or a literal/quoted string such as "fox". For example: static X:=0, Y:="fox". Each static variable is initialized only once (before the script begins executing).

[AHK_L 58+]: Static var := expression is supported. All such expressions are evaluated immediately before the script's auto-execute section in the order they are encountered in the script.

[thomastthai]

Thank you @TAC109 for taking the time to highlight the answer! I must have missed that one sentence when I read the static page in the documentation.