Zig
A general-purpose systems programming language and toolchain that also works as a drop-in C/C++ compiler.
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2 more ways to get Zig
Package managers
- Chocolatey
choco install zig - Homebrew
brew install zig
About Zig
Zig is a systems programming language designed around simplicity: no hidden control flow, no hidden memory allocations, and no preprocessor or macros. Its comptime feature runs ordinary functions at compile time and lets code manipulate types as values.
The toolchain is useful even without writing Zig code. It works as a zero-dependency C and C++ compiler with cross-compilation built in, and zig build gives a consistent build environment across platforms. The current release is 0.16.0, so the language is still pre-1.0.
Strengths
- Drop-in C/C++ compiler with cross-compilation out of the box
- Compile-time code execution for metaprogramming
- No hidden allocations or control flow
- Built-in build system across platforms
Limitations
- Still pre-1.0, so breaking changes between releases are expected
- Smaller ecosystem than established systems languages
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree and open source, supported by the non-profit Zig Software Foundation.
- License
- MIT
- Developer
- Zig Software Foundation
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux, Command line
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Works offline
- Yes
- Best suited for
- Systems programmers and C/C++ projects that need easy cross-compilation
- Categories
- Developer tools
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to Zig
Compare allSoftware that can replace Zig for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
Rust
A compiled systems programming language with no garbage collector, installed through the rustup toolchain manager.
Rust is a stable compiled systems language with compile-time memory safety and an integrated package manager, but its ownership model takes time to learn and compiles can be slow.
Go
An open-source compiled programming language from Google with built-in concurrency and a module system.
Go is a stable compiled language with fast builds and built-in concurrency, but it uses a garbage collector, making it less suited to low-level real-time work than Zig.
Swift
A general-purpose, compiled programming language and toolchain available for Linux, macOS and Windows.
Swift compiles to native code with strong safety guarantees on Linux, macOS and Windows, though much of its library ecosystem targets Apple platforms.
LLVM
A collection of modular compiler and toolchain technologies, including the Clang C and C++ compiler.
LLVM provides the Clang C and C++ compiler with frequent releases and APT or RPM packages, replacing Zig's drop-in C compiler role without the Zig language itself.
GCC
The GNU Compiler Collection, compilers for C, C++, Fortran, Ada, Go, Rust and other languages.
GCC is the GPL-licensed standard compiler on most Linux distributions with many language front ends, but official releases are source only and binaries come from third parties.
Zig as an alternative
Listings that name Zig as an alternative.
Meson
An open-source build system for C, C++, Rust and other languages focused on speed and readability.
Zig brings a built-in build system and drop-in C/C++ compiler with cross-compilation, though it is still pre-1.0 with breaking changes.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
