\function{autoload}
\synopsis{Load a function from a file}
\usage{autoload (String_Type funct, String_Type file)}
\description
    The \var{autoload} function is used to declare \var{funct} to the
    interpreter and indicate that it should be loaded from \var{file} when
    it is actually used.
\example
    Suppose \var{bessel_j0} is a function defined in the file
    \var{bessel.sl}.  Then the statement
#v+
      autoload ("bessel_j0", "bessel.sl");
#v-
    will cause \var{bessel.sl} to be loaded prior to the execution of
    \var{bessel_j0}
\seealso{evalfile}
\done

\function{byte_compile_file}
\synopsis{Compile a file to byte-code for faster loading.}
\usage{byte_compile_file (String_Type file, Integer_Type method)}
\description
  The \var{byte_compile_file} function byte-compiles \var{file}
  producing a new file with the same name except a \var{'c'} is added
  to the output file name.  For example, \var{file} is
  \exmp{"site.sl"}, then the function produces a new file named
  \exmp{site.slc}.
\notes
  The \var{method} parameter is not used in the current
  implementation.  Its use is reserved for the future.  For now, set
  it to \exmp{0}.
\seealso{evalfile}
\done

\function{eval}
\synopsis{Interpret a string as \slang code}
\usage{eval (String_Type expression)}
\description
  The \var{eval} function parses a string as S-Lang code and executes the
  result.  This is a useful function in many contexts such as dynamically
  generating function definitions where there is no way to generate
  them otherwise.
\example
#v+
    if (0 == is_defined ("my_function"))
      eval ("define my_function () { message (\"my_function\"); }");
#v-
\seealso{is_defined, autoload, evalfile}
\done

\function{evalfile}
\synopsis{Interpret a file containing \slang code.}
\usage{Integer_Type evalfile (String_Type file)}
\description
  The \var{evalfile} function loads \var{file} into the interpreter.
  If no errors were encountered, \exmp{1} will be returned; otherwise,
  a \slang error will be generated and the function will return zero.
\example
#v+
    define load_file (file)
    {
       ERROR_BLOCK { _clear_error (); }
       () = evalfile (file);
    }
#v-
\seealso{eval, autoload}
\done