kisumu-lang

Architecture Document

Design Principles

The architecture of Kisumu is guided by the following design principles:

1. Simplicity: Ensure that the language and its associated tools are easy to understand and use.
2. Modularity: Design components to be independent and reusable, promoting scalability and maintainability.
3. Performance: Optimize for speed and efficiency in both the language runtime and its tooling.
4. Safety: Employ robust type checking and memory management mechanisms to prevent errors and vulnerabilities.
5. Extensibility: Allow for future enhancements and community-driven contributions without compromising the core system.

High-Level Overview

Kisumu’s architecture comprises the following core components:

1. Lexer

   • Tokenizes the source code into meaningful elements (keywords, identifiers, literals, etc.).
   • Ensures compliance with the language’s syntax rules.

2. Parser

   • Converts the tokenized input into an Abstract Syntax Tree (AST).
   • Validates the structure of the code for adherence to grammar.

3. Type Checker

   • Enforces type safety by verifying type correctness across operations and assignments.
   • Supports static typing to catch errors at compile time.

4. Code Generator

   • Translates the AST into executable code or bytecode for the runtime environment.
   • Ensures efficiency and compatibility with target platforms.

5. Runtime Environment

   • Executes the generated code.
   • Provides essential services such as memory management, concurrency primitives, and standard I/O.

6. Standard Library

   • Offers built-in modules and packages for common tasks like file handling, networking, and mathematical computations.

7. Tooling

   • Includes a compiler/interpreter, debugger, and package manager to enhance developer productivity.

Component Breakdown

Lexer

• Input: Raw source code.
• Output: Stream of tokens.
• Key Responsibilities:
  • Recognize valid tokens defined in the language specification.
  • Report syntax errors early in the compilation process.

Parser

• Input: Tokens from the lexer.
• Output: Abstract Syntax Tree (AST).
• Key Responsibilities:
  • Construct a hierarchical representation of the code.
  • Identify and report structural issues.

Type Checker

• Input: AST.
• Output: Annotated AST or error messages.
• Key Responsibilities:
  • Validate data types and their operations.
  • Ensure consistency in function calls and variable usage.

Code Generator

• Input: Annotated AST.
• Output: Executable code or bytecode.
• Key Responsibilities:
  • Optimize code for performance.
  • Generate platform-specific instructions or intermediate representations.

Runtime Environment

• Features:
  • Memory Management: Automatic garbage collection.
  • Concurrency: Lightweight threads and channels inspired by Go.
  • Error Handling: Flexible mechanisms for runtime error reporting.

Standard Library

• Modules:
  • Core: Essential data types and utilities.
  • I/O: File and stream handling.
  • Network: Socket programming and HTTP utilities.
  • Math: Advanced mathematical functions.

Tooling

• Compiler/Interpreter:

  • Converts source code into executable programs.
  • Offers flags and options for debugging and optimization.

• Debugger:

  • Provides tools for tracing and analyzing program execution.
  • Supports breakpoints, variable inspection, and step-by-step execution.

• Package Manager:

  • Manages dependencies and library installations.
  • Facilitates version control and updates.

Architectural Diagram

(To be added: Visual representation of the core components and their interactions.)

Future Considerations

1. Support for JIT Compilation:

   • Enhance runtime performance by compiling frequently used code paths on the fly.

2. Integration with External Tools:

   • Extend interoperability with tools like IDEs and third-party libraries.

3. Security Enhancements:

   • Harden the runtime against vulnerabilities and exploits.

4. Community Contributions:

   • Establish guidelines for extensions and plug-ins to foster a thriving ecosystem.

This document outlines the foundational architecture of Kisumu, providing a roadmap for its development and evolution. Feedback and contributions are welcomed to refine and enhance this vision.

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