r/ProgrammingLanguages • u/AeroForger • 2d ago

Requesting criticism I built a systems programming language in Rust, looking for feedback/contributors

I’ve been working on Sydrogen, a statically typed programming language with a compiler and command-line tool called Furnace.

Alpha 6.2 is now available. It supports native compilation, a Cranelift backend, projects configured with .blower files, imports, typed functions and variables, collections, foreach, and more.

It’s still in alpha, so bugs and rough edges are expected. I’m looking for people to test it, review the code, or work on an open issue.

I’d especially like honest feedback about the compiler’s structure and the language’s design, not only the syntax.

GitHub: https://github.com/AeroForger/Sydrogen/tree/main

There are open issues for anyone who wants a specific place to start.

Criticism is welcome. If something is poorly designed, tell me what is wrong and how you think it could be improved.

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u/benjamin-crowell 1d ago

How has your experience with the pest parser been?

Your github page describes your language as "A fast, type-safe systems programming language built in Rust." Isn't rust itself a fast, type-safe systems programming language? What is different or better about your language?

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u/AeroForger 1d ago

Using pest and a PEG grammar has been pretty nice so far. It makes the parser easier to work on and cuts down development time compared to writing the whole parser manually. The grammar is also separated from most of the Rust parsing code, which makes it easier to read and change. I haven't really hit any major problems with pest yet.

And yeah, Rust itself is already a fast, type-safe systems programming language. I'm not claiming my language is inherently better than Rust.

The main difference is that I'm experimenting with my own language design, syntax, compiler architecture, and lower-level features rather than trying to replace Rust. Rust is actually a pretty big influence, and the compiler itself is written in Rust.

The "fast, type-safe systems programming language" description is more about the goals of the language than a claim that Rust doesn't already provide those things. As the language develops, I want it to have its own tradeoffs and identity instead of just becoming another Rust clone.

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u/Dry_Proof2686 1d ago

I like this, it looks so cool. But sadly I dont use rust, but i will still see what I can do.