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zenc-lang/zenc

Zen C is a systems language with high-level ergonomics that compiles to readable GNU C11 and runs with C-level performance.

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What is it?

Zen C is a systems programming language that transpiles to human-readable GNU C / C11. It adds type inference, pattern matching, generics, traits, async/await, and manual memory management with RAII-style cleanup, while keeping C ABI compatibility so existing C libraries can be called directly.

The toolchain includes the zc compiler with run and build commands, a REPL built on in-process JIT compilation via LibTCC, and a language server supporting go-to-definition, completion, hover, and diagnostics over JSON-RPC. The project also ships a standard library covering vectors, maps, strings, networking, JSON, threads, and regex, plus a built-in test framework with `test` blocks.

Beyond the C backend, the compiler can emit C++, CUDA, Objective-C, Common Lisp, and JSON AST output. It builds on Linux, macOS, and Windows, and can be compiled as a portable APE binary via Cosmopolitan Libc.

Key features

  • 01Transpiles to readable GNU C11 code with C ABI compatibility.
  • 02Provides type inference, pattern matching, generics, traits, and async/await.
  • 03Includes a REPL with in-process JIT execution and a language server for editors.
  • 04Ships a standard library with collections, networking, JSON, threads, and regex.
  • 05Offers a built-in test framework with per-test isolation.

Use cases

  • Writing systems code that needs C-level performance with a more ergonomic syntax.
  • Incrementally adopting a new language alongside an existing C codebase.
  • Experimenting with language features through the REPL.
  • Generating C++ or CUDA code from Zen C sources.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Clone the repository

    git clone https://github.com/zenc-lang/zenc.git
  2. 2

    Enter the project directory

    cd zenc
  3. 3

    Build the compiler

    make
  4. 4

    Install it system-wide

    sudo make install

Things to know

  • The README does not state a stable release, and the project is in active development.
  • Windows support is documented only for x86_64 via MinGW, and the Windows build uses a batch script.

Topics

#programming-languages#compiler#transpiler#lsp#repl#open-source#zen-c

FAQ

What is zenc?
Zen C is a systems language with high-level ergonomics that compiles to readable GNU C11 and runs with C-level performance. Zen C is a systems programming language that transpiles to human-readable GNU C / C11. It adds type inference, pattern matching, generics, traits, async/await, and manual memory management with RAII-style cleanup, while keeping C ABI compatibility so existing C libraries can be called directly.
Is zenc free to use? What license does it have?
zenc is open source under the MIT license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is zenc still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to zenc was on Oct 15, 2026.
What can I use zenc for?
Writing systems code that needs C-level performance with a more ergonomic syntax. Incrementally adopting a new language alongside an existing C codebase. Experimenting with language features through the REPL. Generating C++ or CUDA code from Zen C sources.
How do I install zenc?
Clone the repository: git clone https://github.com/zenc-lang/zenc.git Enter the project directory: cd zenc Build the compiler: make Install it system-wide: sudo make install
Where can I get zenc?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/zenc-lang/zenc

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