Introduction
Overview
Kisumu is an innovative, statically-typed programming language designed with simplicity, scalability, and performance at its core. It draws inspiration from Go’s robust concurrency model, Python’s user-friendly syntax, and Rust’s focus on memory safety. This project aims to address challenges in modern software development by providing developers with a tool that balances accessibility and power.
Vision
Kisumu aspires to empower developers with a language that:
- Simplifies programming while retaining advanced capabilities.
- Enhances productivity through intuitive design and modern features.
- Promotes scalability for projects of any size, from small scripts to large-scale systems.
- Ensures safety and reliability with a robust type system and memory management.
Mission
The mission of Kisumu is to build a programming language that seamlessly blends ease of use with advanced technical features, fostering innovation and creativity within the software development community.
Target Audience
Kisumu is tailored for:
- Software developers seeking a language that prioritizes simplicity and efficiency.
- Educators and learners looking for an accessible yet powerful tool for teaching and learning programming concepts.
- Embedded systems enthusiasts in need of a lightweight and performant language for hardware applications.
- Open-source contributors eager to collaborate on an ambitious and impactful project.
Key Goals
- Accessibility: Offer a syntax that is beginner-friendly yet comprehensive for advanced users.
- Performance: Provide efficient execution for compute-intensive tasks and real-time applications.
- Concurrency: Implement robust concurrency models inspired by Go to support modern development needs.
- Interoperability: Enable seamless integration with other programming languages through a Foreign Function Interface (FFI).
- Modularity: Support a modular architecture to promote code reuse and scalability.
Scope
The Kisumu programming language will initially focus on:
- Implementing a core language specification that includes essential features such as type definitions, concurrency primitives, and error handling.
- Providing a standard library with support for common tasks like file handling, networking, and mathematical operations.
- Developing tools and utilities to facilitate the language’s adoption, including a compiler/interpreter, a package manager, and debugging tools.
- Building a collaborative community to expand and maintain the language’s ecosystem.
Why Kisumu?
While numerous programming languages exist, Kisumu stands out by:
- Combining Python’s simplicity, Go’s concurrency, and Rust’s safety in a single language.
- Offering a tailored solution for general-purpose programming and embedded systems development.
- Focusing on developer experience with comprehensive documentation, error messages, and learning resources.
This document sets the foundation for Kisumu’s development. We invite contributors, educators, and enthusiasts to join us on this journey to create a language that will redefine software development. Let’s make Kisumu a reality together!