Exploring the Zig programming language with Loris Cro - Part 1 of 2

Coding Chats episode 31 - John Crickett interviews Loris Cro about the Zig programming language and the Zig Foundation.

They discuss the innovative features of Zig, including its unique approach to metaprogramming with Comp time, its role as a C and C++ compiler, and the benefits of using Zig for cross-compilation.

Loris explains the structure and mission of the Zig Foundation, emphasizing its independence from big tech and its commitment to fostering a vibrant community. The conversation also delves into the development of the Zig compiler, its transition to being self-hosted, and the future of Zig in the programming landscape.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Zig Programming Language

03:31 Understanding Nonprofit Structure and Community Engagement

06:22 Innovative Features of Zig: Comptime and Cross-Compilation

09:02 Exploring Metaprogramming with Comptime

11:50 Benefits of Using Zig for C and C++ Projects

15:07 Zig's Unique Approach to Compiler Design

18:05 Incremental Compilation and Performance Improvements

37:01 The Promise of Faster Compilation

38:20 Learning Zig Through Projects

Loris's links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristoff-it/

John's Links:

John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/

John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickett

John's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickett

John's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.social

Check out John's software engineering related newsletters:

Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.substack.com/ which shares real-world project ideas that you can use to level up your coding skills.

Developing Skills: https://read.developingskills.fyi/ covering everything from system design to soft skills, helping them progress their career from junior to staff+ or for those that want onto a management track.

Takeaways

Zig is a lower-level programming language that provides raw access to machine power.

The Zig Foundation operates as a nonprofit organization without backing from big tech.

Community engagement is crucial for the growth and success of Zig.

Comptime is a unique feature of Zig that allows for innovative metaprogramming.

Zig supports cross-compilation for C and C++ projects, enhancing portability.

The Zig compiler has transitioned to being self-hosted, improving productivity.

Zig aims to provide instant builds for a better development experience.Incremental compilation and in-place binary patching are key features being developed.

Zig's approach to metaprogramming is clearer and more manageable than traditional macros.

The future of Zig looks promising with ongoing improvements in compiler performance.