zenc-lang/zenc
FreeWrite like a high-level language, run like C.
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About zenc-lang/zenc
Zen C (zenc) is a modern systems programming language that compiles to human-readable GNU C / C11. It offers a rich feature set including type inference, pattern matching, generics, traits, async/await, and manual memory management with RAII capabilities, while maintaining 100% C ABI compatibility. The compiler (zc) comes with a CLI and standard library, and supports Windows (x86_64) via MinGW. The project includes an ecosystem of tools: official VS Code extension, Vim plugin, documentation, RFCs, and community showcase projects. Zen C aims to provide high-level language ergonomics with zero runtime overhead, targeting performance-critical and systems programming domains.
Key Features
Compiles to human-readable GNU C / C11
Type inference and pattern matching
Generics and traits
Async/await support
Manual memory management with RAII capabilities
100% C ABI compatibility
Standard library with networking, filesystem, and process operations via Platform Abstraction Layer (PAL)
CLI compiler (zc) with make-based build system
VS Code extension and Vim plugin for syntax highlighting and snippets
Official documentation and language specification
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Combines high-level language features with C-level performance
- Outputs human-readable C code for easy debugging and inspection
- Full C ABI compatibility enables seamless integration with existing C libraries
- RAII and manual memory management offer flexible resource control
- Active development with growing ecosystem and community support
- Open source and free to use
Cons
- Relatively young project; may have fewer third-party libraries and tools
- Learning curve for combining high-level abstractions with manual memory management
- Limited community compared to more established languages
- Documentation and language specification still in active development
Best For
Systems programming requiring low-level control and high performanceBuilding performance-critical applications that must interop with C codeDeveloping embedded systems or firmwareCreating cross-platform software with minimal runtime overheadWriting network services or operating system components
FAQ
What is Zen C?
Zen C is a modern systems programming language that compiles to human-readable GNU C / C11. It provides features like type inference, generics, async/await, and RAII while maintaining 100% C ABI compatibility.
How do I install Zen C?
Clone the repository from GitHub, then run 'make clean && make && sudo make install' on Linux/macOS. For Windows, use the provided build.bat script with MinGW.
Does Zen C have an editor or IDE support?
Yes, there are official extensions for VS Code (vscode-zenc) and Vim/Neovim (zenc.vim) providing syntax highlighting and snippets.
Is Zen C production-ready?
The project is under active development. While it has a working compiler and standard library, it is not yet stable for production use. Users are encouraged to experiment and contribute.