Peeper

Peeper is an experimental systems programming language and native compiler. This repository contains the compiler, bundled library, package tooling, language server, and executable source fixtures.

Peeper is pre-release software. Language, package, and compiler interfaces may change without compatibility guarantees.

Current capabilities

• Static semantic analysis with explicit compiler phases.
• Ownership, move, borrow, pointer, and reference checks.
• Scalars, aggregates, arrays, slices, optionals, interfaces, and modules.
• HIR and MIR lowering to LLVM IR and native executables through Clang.
• Project manifests, dependency commands, source checking, and an LSP server.

See the open roadmap for unfinished language and runtime work.

Binary installation

Linux and macOS:

curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -fsSL https://github.com/PeeperLanguage/compiler/releases/latest/download/install.sh | sh

Windows PowerShell:

irm https://github.com/PeeperLanguage/compiler/releases/latest/download/install.ps1 | iex

Bootstrap scripts detect amd64 or arm64 automatically, download the release manifest and the compiler and toolchain packs for the detected host, verify every SHA-256 digest, and activate the installation atomically. macOS running under Rosetta installs the native arm64 build. macOS requires Command Line Tools and working xcrun --sdk macosx --show-sdk-path.

Bootstrap scripts persist the Peeper binary directory in the user PATH idempotently; restart your terminal afterward, because a piped shell cannot modify its parent environment. Run peeper doctor after installation.

See docs/distribution.md for support policy, release security, and maintainer setup.

Source build requirements

• Go version declared in go.mod.
• LLVM Clang available as clang for native build and run commands.
• Git for cloning the compiler and fetching packages.

Build from source

git clone https://github.com/PeeperLanguage/compiler.git
cd compiler
bash scripts/build.sh
build/bin/peeper -help

Bundling produces:

• compiler binary: build/bin/peeper
• bundled libraries: build/libs

Create a project

peeper init initializes the current directory:

mkdir hello-peeper
cd hello-peeper
/path/to/compiler/build/bin/peeper init hello-peeper
/path/to/compiler/build/bin/peeper run

Generated source starts with:

fn main() {
    println("Hello from Peeper!");
}

Commands

Command	Purpose
peeper build [path]	Compile a program to a native executable.
peeper run [path] [args]	Compile and run a program on the host target.
peeper check [path ...]	Check .peep files or directories without linking.
peeper init [name]	Initialize peeper.toml and src/main.peep.
peeper get [pkg ...]	Install manifest or named dependencies.
peeper update [pkg ...]	Update locked dependencies.
peeper sniff [pkg ...]	Preview available dependency updates.
peeper list	List direct and transitive dependencies.
peeper remove <alias>	Remove one dependency.
peeper cleanup	Remove orphaned cached dependencies.
peeper doctor	Validate installation, managed toolchain, and runtime.
peeper lsp	Start the language server over standard input/output.

Run peeper -help for the complete command list and current aliases.

Development

go vet ./...
go test ./...
go test -race ./...
bash scripts/build.sh
PEEPER_BIN="$PWD/build/bin/peeper" go test -count=1 ./x_test

Read CONTRIBUTING.md before proposing a change. Compiler work must also follow RULES.md, go-style.md, and COMPILER_GUIDELINES.md.

Security reports belong through the private process in SECURITY.md, not a public issue. Community participation follows CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md.

License

Peeper is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0.