# The Diatom Programming Language
[![Crates.io][crates-badge]][crates-url]
[![license][license-badge]][crates-url]
[](https://deps.rs/repo/github/diatom-lang/diatom)
[crates-badge]: https://img.shields.io/crates/v/diatom.svg
[crates-url]: https://crates.io/crates/diatom
[license-badge]: https://img.shields.io/crates/l/diatom
A dynamic typed scripting language for embedded use in applications. This project is yet another attempt of being a "better" lua.
**Warning**: Project is still in experimental stage and API is considered as unstable.
## Features
- [x] **Never panic**\*
- [x] **High Performance**\*\*: Runs at most **2x** speed of lua 5.4, **6x** speed of python 3.10
- [ ] Support for a tracing jit (Planned)
- [x] **rustc style** helpful **error message**
- [x] No global variable
- [x] No `nil/None` value
- [x] Has real integer type
- [x] Has **0-indexed** real **list** type
- [x] Support **tuple** for multiple return
- [x] Support for string indexed **table**
- [x] Support for **meta table** and **OOP style method call syntax**
- [ ] Support for gradual typing (Planned)
- [ ] Support for macro system (Planned)
\*: Panic may still be triggered by external functions
\*\*: Results are from our benchmarks which may vary betweens different builds and test codes.
## Quick Start
#### Try Diatom online
You can try diatom at [the online playground](https://diatom-lang.github.io/diatom-playground/).
#### Install with cargo
Make sure you have [Rust and Cargo](https://doc.rust-lang.org/book/ch01-01-installation.html) installed.
```sh
cargo install diatom
diatom --help # show help for diatom CLI
diatom # Enter diatom REPL console
```
#### Build from source
Run the following script:
```sh
git clone https://github.com/diatom-lang/diatom.git
cd diatom
cargo run --release # Run interactive console
```
#### Syntax highlight
- Vim/Neovim plugin: [diatom.vim](https://github.com/diatom-lang/diatom.vim)
## Reference & Grammar
#### The Reference Book
The Diatom Reference (with examples) is available at [here](https://diatom-lang.github.io/reference/).
#### Examples
For standard library function and built-in types and methods checks [examples](examples/). These examples are checked by unit tests and will never out of date.
## Embedding in Application
#### Embedding in Rust Application
Diatom is available at [crates.io](https://crates.io/crates/diatom) with detailed examples.
To use latest build, add this repo to your `Cargo.toml`. Latest build documentation is available [here](https://diatom-lang.github.io/diatom).
#### Use C bindings
Work in progress.
## Feature Showcase
#### Functional style std-lib
<img width="890" alt="Screenshot 2023-02-19 at 10 23 38 PM" src="https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/63455223/219954981-47d4e2c9-cbac-4f5d-af07-43556ed36ec9.png">
#### Pretty error reporting and trace-back
<img width="885" alt="Screenshot 2023-02-19 at 10 00 53 PM" src="https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/63455223/219954955-1c6b4e10-2549-4184-a39a-70f71fcde29a.png">
#### Expression based syntax
<img width="889" alt="Screenshot 2023-02-19 at 10 25 16 PM" src="https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/63455223/219954993-c5d4f493-3d40-474e-a777-27d2f207511e.png">
#### Interactive REPL console with **syntax highlight**
<img width="890" alt="Screenshot 2023-02-19 at 10 26 39 PM" src="https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/63455223/219955007-f2ebaebc-1265-4cf1-95f1-297825e5fed7.png">