NovaLang

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Introduction

NovaLang is a modern, compiled programming language that combines the elegance of Python's syntax with the performance of compiled languages. While it shares a similar syntax with Python, NovaLang is not a Python compiler or interpreter - it's a completely independent language designed for high performance and type safety.

Key features:

• Python-like syntax for easy learning and adoption
• Compiled to native code for superior performance
• Strong type system for better reliability
• Modern language features and optimizations
• LLVM-based compilation pipeline

Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Ubuntu/Debian Linux
• CMake 3.10 or higher
• LLVM 14
• C++17 compatible compiler
• Build essentials

Installation

1. Install dependencies:

sudo apt-get install -y build-essential cmake git llvm-14 llvm-14-dev clang-14 libclang-14-dev

2. Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/NovaLang.git
cd NovaLang

3. Build the project:

mkdir build && cd build
cmake ..
make

Hello World Example

Create a file named hello.nova:

def main():
    print("Hello, NovaLang!")

Compile and run:

./compiler hello.nova

Testing

NovaLang includes a comprehensive test suite to ensure language features work correctly. The test suite is organized into three main categories:

1. Basic Language Features

   • Variable declarations and assignments
   • Operators
   • Conditional statements
   • Loops
   • Functions

2. Advanced Language Features

   • Variable scopes
   • Data structures
   • Type inference
   • Error handling
   • Mathematical operations

3. Object-Oriented Features

   • Classes
   • Inheritance
   • Encapsulation

Running Tests

Running All Tests

To run all tests, use the provided script:

./run_tests.sh

Running Individual Tests

To run a specific test, use:

./run_test.sh 01_variables  # Replace with the test name you want to run

Capturing Expected Output

To capture the current output of tests as the expected output, use the provided script:

./capture_expected.sh

This will create files in the test/expected/ directory, which will be used for verification in subsequent test runs.

For more detailed information about the test suite, see the test/README.md file.

Contributing

We welcome contributions from the community! Here's how you can help:

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch (git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature)
3. Commit your changes (git commit -m 'Add some AmazingFeature')
4. Push to the branch (git push origin feature/AmazingFeature)
5. Open a Pull Request

Please make sure to update tests as appropriate and follow our coding style guidelines.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

Acknowledgments

• LLVM Project for providing the compiler infrastructure
• Python for inspiring the syntax design
• All contributors who help make NovaLang better