Getting Started

From first line to full toolchain — start in the playground, go further with the CLI.

Try It Now

The fastest way to explore Zym is the Playground. It runs the full language in your browser — variables, functions, structs, closures, continuations, macros, the preprocessor — everything, no install required.

This is your entry point. Explore the syntax, test ideas, see what Zym feels like. When you're ready for more — file I/O, native modules, compiled executables — that's where the CLI comes in.

Get the CLI

The Zym CLI is a single binary that compiles, runs, packages, and inspects Zym programs. It's the full toolchain — everything you need to go from script to standalone executable.

Hello World

Create a file called hello.zym:

print("Hello from Zym!");

Run it:

zym hello.zym

Your First Script

A slightly richer example — variables, functions, loops, and a list.

func fibonacci(n) {
    if (n < 2) return n;
    return fibonacci(n - 1) + fibonacci(n - 2);
}

var results = [];
for (var i = 0; i < 10; i = i + 1) {
    push(results, fibonacci(i));
}
print(results);

zym example.zym
// → [0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34]

Compile & Package

Zym compiles to bytecode and can package scripts into standalone executables.

Compile to Bytecode

Compile once, run anywhere — bytecode is portable across platforms.

zym example.zym -o example.zbc    // compile to bytecode
zym example.zbc                    // run bytecode directly

Build a Standalone Executable

Package your script into a single binary — no runtime install needed for end users.

zym example.zym -o example.exe    // Windows
zym example.zym -o example         // Linux

Where to Go Next

You've got the basics. Here's where to dig deeper depending on what you need.