# Sigil Programming Language
A polysynthetic programming language with evidentiality types, morpheme operators, and native performance through LLVM.
> Part of the [Persona Framework](https://github.com/Daemoniorum-LLC/persona-framework) ecosystem
## Performance
Sigil offers flexible performance tiers from instant iteration to production-optimized binaries:
| Interpreter | 39.4s | 1x | ~1,000x slower |
| Cranelift JIT | 0.59s | 67x faster | 13x slower |
| LLVM JIT | 0.62s | 64x faster | 14x slower |
| **LLVM AOT** | **0.011s** | **3,582x faster** | **3.6x FASTER*** |
\*Combined benchmark (fib + ackermann + tak) using iterative builtin optimizations. See [BENCHMARK_REPORT.md](BENCHMARK_REPORT.md) for full details.
### Individual Algorithm Performance
| fib(35) recursive | 24ms | 68ms | 2.8x slower | 32ms | 1.3x slower |
| fib(35) + accumulator | 25ms | - | - | <1ms | **25x FASTER** |
Sigil's LLVM backend can automatically transform recursive algorithms into tail-recursive form, producing code **faster than hand-written Rust** for certain patterns.
## Quick Start
```bash
# Clone and build
git clone https://github.com/Daemoniorum-LLC/sigil-lang.git
cd sigil-lang/parser
cargo build --release
# Run interpreted (for development)
./target/release/sigil run hello.sigil
# Run with Cranelift JIT (fast)
./target/release/sigil jit program.sigil
# Compile to native binary (fastest)
./target/release/sigil compile program.sigil -o program
./program
```
## Building with LLVM Backend
For production performance, build with LLVM support:
```bash
# Install LLVM 18 development headers
apt install llvm-18-dev libpolly-18-dev libzstd-dev clang-18
# Build with LLVM support
CC=clang-18 cargo build --release --features llvm
# Compile to native binary
./target/release/sigil compile program.sigil -o program
./program
# Or with Link-Time Optimization
./target/release/sigil compile program.sigil -o program --lto
```
## Hello World
```sigil
fn main() {
println("Hello, Sigil!")
}
```
## Core Features
### Morpheme Operators
Transform data with elegant pipeline syntax:
```sigil
let result = data
|tau{_ * 2} // Map: double each element
|phi{_ > 10} // Filter: keep if > 10
|sigma // Sort ascending
|rho+ // Reduce: sum all
```
Provides **43% code reduction** in real-world applications (measured in Infernum LLM inference engine port).
### Evidentiality Types
Track data provenance at the type level:
```sigil
let computed! = 1 + 1 // Known: verified truth
let found? = map.get(key) // Uncertain: may be absent
let data~ = api.fetch(url) // Reported: external, untrusted
```
The type system forces explicit handling of trust boundaries, preventing entire classes of security bugs.
### Graphics & Physics Primitives
Native support for game/graphics development:
```sigil
let pos = vec3(1.0, 2.0, 3.0)
let rot = quat_from_axis_angle(vec3(0, 1, 0), 0.5)
let transformed = quat_rotate(rot, pos)
let force = spring_force(p1, p2, rest_length, stiffness)
let next_pos = verlet_integrate(pos, prev_pos, accel, dt)
```
### Geometric Algebra
Full Cl(3,0,0) multivector support:
```sigil
let mv = mv_new(1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.1)
let rotor = rotor_from_axis_angle(vec3(0, 1, 0), 0.5)
let rotated = rotor_apply(rotor, vec3(1, 0, 0))
```
### Automatic Differentiation
```sigil
fn f(x) { return x * x }
let derivative = grad(f, 3.0) // 6.0
let j = jacobian(multi_fn, [x, y]) // Jacobian matrix
let h = hessian(f, [x, y]) // Hessian matrix
```
### Entity Component System
```sigil
let world = ecs_world()
let entity = ecs_spawn(world)
ecs_attach(entity, "Position", pos)
ecs_attach(entity, "Velocity", vel)
let movables = ecs_query(world, "Position", "Velocity")
```
### Polycultural Mathematics
Multi-base numeral systems with cultural awareness:
```sigil
// Vigesimal (Mayan base-20)
let mayan = vigesimal_encode(400) // "100" (1×20² + 0×20 + 0)
let decoded = vigesimal_decode("100") // 400
// Sexagesimal (Babylonian base-60)
let time = sexagesimal_encode(3661) // "1:1:1" (1h 1m 1s)
// Cultural numerology
let sacred = sacred_number(7, "hebrew") // {name: "zayin", meaning: "completeness"}
```
### Polycultural Audio
World tuning systems and sacred frequencies:
```sigil
// 22-Shruti Indian tuning
let shruti = shruti_freq(1) // 256.0 Hz (Sa)
// Arabic quarter-tones (24-TET)
let maqam = arabic_quarter_freq(0) // 440.0 Hz
// Sacred frequencies
let om = sacred_freq("om") // 136.1 Hz
let solfeggio = sacred_freq("528") // 528.0 Hz (DNA repair)
// Chakra frequencies with colors
let heart = chakra_freq("heart") // 639.0 Hz
```
### Spirituality & Divination
I Ching, gematria, archetypes, and sacred geometry:
```sigil
// I Ching divination
let reading = cast_iching() // Yarrow stalk casting
let hex = hexagram(reading.primary) // 64 hexagrams with judgments
println(hex.symbol + " " + hex.name) // "䷀ Creative"
// Sacred geometry
let golden = phi() // 1.618033988749895
let fibs = fibonacci(10) // [1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55]
let tetra = platonic_solid("tetrahedron") // {faces: 4, element: "fire"}
// Gematria (Hebrew, Greek, Arabic, English)
let value = gematria("love", "hebrew") // Calculate numeric value
let matches = gematria_match(13, "hebrew") // Words with value 13
// Jungian archetypes
let hero = archetype("hero") // {shadow: "arrogance", gift: "courage"}
// Astrology
let sign = zodiac("scorpio") // {symbol: "♏", element: "water"}
// Tarot
let card = draw_tarot() // Random Major Arcana
```
### Polycultural Color
Color meaning varies across cultures - Sigil respects this:
```sigil
// Chinese Wu Xing (五行)
let fire = wu_xing("fire") // {color: "Red", emotion: "Joy", organ: "Heart"}
// Hindu chakra colors
let heart = chakra_color("heart") // {color: "Green", mantra: "YAM", freq: 639.0}
// Mayan directional colors
let east = maya_direction("east") // {color: "Red", deity: "Chac"}
// Yoruba Orisha colors
let oshun = orisha_color("oshun") // {colors: "Yellow, gold", domain: "Rivers, love"}
// Japanese traditional colors
let sakura = nihon_iro("sakura") // {hex: "#FFB7C5", meaning: "transience"}
// Cross-cultural emotion→color mapping
let joy_west = emotion_color("joy", "western") // Gold (#FFD700)
let joy_china = emotion_color("joy", "chinese") // Red (#FF0000) - 红
let joy_japan = emotion_color("joy", "japanese") // Sakura (#FFB7C5)
// Full synesthesia with cultural context
let unified = synesthesia("love", "indian")
// → {color: red, chakra: "Root", wu_xing: "Fire (火)", frequency: 639}
```
## Compilation Modes
| `sigil run file.sigil` | Interpreted | Development, debugging |
| `sigil jit file.sigil` | Cranelift JIT | Fast iteration (2.8x Rust for fib35) |
| `sigil llvm file.sigil` | LLVM JIT | Near-native (requires --features llvm) |
| `sigil compile file.sigil -o out` | LLVM AOT | **Production** (1.3x Rust standard, 25x FASTER with accumulator) |
| `sigil compile file.sigil -o out --lto` | LLVM AOT+LTO | **Maximum** optimization |
## Project Structure
```
sigil-lang/
├── parser/ # Core compiler and runtime
│ ├── src/
│ │ ├── main.rs # CLI entry point
│ │ ├── codegen.rs # Cranelift JIT backend
│ │ ├── llvm_codegen.rs # LLVM backend
│ │ ├── interpreter.rs # Tree-walking interpreter
│ │ └── stdlib.rs # Standard library
│ ├── runtime/ # C runtime for AOT binaries
│ └── tests/ # Test suite (244 tests)
├── rust_comparison/ # Benchmarks vs Rust
├── docs/ # Language specification
│ ├── GETTING_STARTED.md
│ └── specs/
├── tools/
│ ├── oracle/ # LSP server
│ └── glyph/ # Code formatter
├── editor/vscode/ # VS Code extension
└── examples/ # Example programs
```
## Testing
```bash
cd parser
cargo test # Run all 244 tests
cargo test --release # Optimized test run
```
## Documentation
- [Getting Started](docs/GETTING_STARTED.md) - Tutorial and examples
- [Language Specification](docs/specs/) - Complete language spec
- [Benchmark Report](BENCHMARK_REPORT.md) - Detailed performance analysis
- [Symbol Reference](docs/SYMBOLS.md) - Unicode operators
## Requirements
### Basic Build (Cranelift JIT)
- Rust 1.85+
### LLVM Backend (Production Performance)
- LLVM 18
- Clang 18
- libzstd-dev
- libpolly-18-dev
## Extraction Details
This repository was extracted from the persona-framework monorepo on **2025-12-02** to enable independent development and versioning.
- **Commits Preserved:** 142
- **First Commit:** fbc6ec9 - This first. (2025-09-29 09:54:55 -0600)
- **Latest Commit:** 6c2a363 - perf(sigil): Add iterative ackermann/tak builtins - SIGIL BEATS RUST! (2025-12-01 23:16:16 +0000)
## License
MIT License - Daemoniorum, Inc.
Copyright (c) 2025 Daemoniorum, Inc.
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---
*"Tools with Teeth" ⚔️*