71ca0b176f
Compilers will sometimes `#define linux 1` if the operating system in
use is Linux. This clashes with the code produced by the C backend when
processing the stdlib, e.g. std.Target.Os.VersionRange [^1] which is a
struct containing a field named `linux`.
The output of the C backend doesn't rely on this macro being defined,
and other code also shouldn't rely on it -- e.g. quoting from the GCC
documentation [^2]:
"""
The C standard requires that all system-specific macros be part of
the reserved namespace. All names which begin with two underscores, or
an underscore and a capital letter, are reserved for the compiler and
library to use as they wish. However, historically system-specific
macros have had names with no special prefix; for instance, it is
common to find unix defined on Unix systems.
[...]
We are slowly phasing out all predefined macros which are outside the
reserved namespace. You should never use them in new programs, and we
encourage you to correct older code to use the parallel macros
whenever you find it. We don’t recommend you use the system-specific
macros that are in the reserved namespace, either. It is better in the
long run to check specifically for features you need
"""
[^1]: 8c32d989c9/lib/std/target.zig (L224)
[^2]: https://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/cpp/System-specific-Predefined-Macros.html#System-specific-Predefined-Macros
A general-purpose programming language and toolchain for maintaining robust, optimal, and reusable software.
Resources
- Introduction
- Download & Documentation
- Chapter 0 - Getting Started | ZigLearn.org
- Community
- Contributing
- Code of Conduct
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Community Projects
Installation
- download a pre-built binary
- install from a package manager
- build from source
- bootstrap zig for any target
License
The ultimate goal of the Zig project is to serve users. As a first-order effect, this means users of the compiler, helping programmers to write better software. Even more important, however, are the end-users.
Zig is intended to be used to help end-users accomplish their goals. Zig should be used to empower end-users, never to exploit them financially, or to limit their freedom to interact with hardware or software in any way.
However, such problems are best solved with social norms, not with software licenses. Any attempt to complicate the software license of Zig would risk compromising the value Zig provides.
Therefore, Zig is available under the MIT (Expat) License, and comes with a humble request: use it to make software better serve the needs of end-users.
This project redistributes code from other projects, some of which have other licenses besides MIT. Such licenses are generally similar to the MIT license for practical purposes. See the subdirectories and files inside lib/ for more details.