Zig Tutorial
Example
const std = @import("std");
fn main() {
std.print("Hello, world!\n");
}
Yes, is a curly bracket language, and looks like C but also looks like Rust. This will help you because the transition is not so difficult. Though Zig is very young and therefore not suitable for a production project yet, soon it will be ready. By the time you finish learning it you will find jobs for Zig.
The Zig Software Foundation is a non-profit corporation founded in 2020 by Andrew Kelley, the creator of Zig, with the goal of supporting the development of the language. Currently, the ZSF is able to offer paid work at competitive rates to a small number of core contributors. We hope to be able to extend this offer to more core contributors in the future. The Zig Software Foundation is sustained by donations.
Memory-Safe C Alternative
Zig isn't just a replacement for C, it's a strategic evolution. Think of it like a sleek sports car compared to a rugged tank. Both get you there, but with vastly different approaches. Here's why Zig shines:
Reliable and Predictable
- Built-in safety features: Unlike C's notorious memory pitfalls, Zig's static typing, bounds checking, and null pointer safety prevent common crashes and security vulnerabilities.
- Explicit control: You still have low-level access for performance optimization, but with guardrails that protect against accidental errors.
- Clear error messages: Zig guides you with friendly and informative diagnostics, instead of cryptic C error codes.
Efficient and Performant
- Zero runtime overhead: No garbage collector or virtual machine, keeping code blazingly fast like C.
- Minimal dependencies: Zig compiles directly to machine code, reducing bloat and external library headaches.
- Modern optimizations: Zig utilizes LLVM for advanced optimizations, squeezing every ounce of performance from your code.
Developer-Friendly and Expressive
- Familiar syntax: Zig's C-like syntax makes it easy to pick up for C programmers, with modern enhancements like generic programming and metaprogramming.
- Powerful features: Go beyond C with features like built-in concurrency, compile-time code generation, and powerful macros.
- Active community: Join a vibrant and welcoming community for support, libraries, and inspiration.
In essence, Zig takes the raw power and control of C, adds a layer of robust safety and developer-friendly features, and wraps it in a modern, performant package. It's the ideal choice for building reliable, efficient, and enjoyable systems software.
So, ditch the memory leaks and cryptic errors, and experience the joy of programming with Zig!
Note: This description focuses on Zig's advantages over C for systems programming. Consider mentioning other aspects like its suitability for high-performance applications, embedded development, or even web development depending on your target audience.
Zig Quiz
We will prepare a quiz that you can take for fun. This is a prep quiz that check your memory for zig syntax. This is not an exam but will help you grow confidence and stimulate you to learn details. Every question has at least one correct answer, sometimes two or more answers are correct. Select all correct answers to get 1 point for each question.
If you pass this exam you can claim a developer certificate. We provide certification for free but you must take at least 80%, that is 80 points from 100. If we add more questions you must score more points. After you take the exam, post feedback on Discord. We will use your feedback to improve the quiz.
Study Zig Syntax
We use AI to learn syntax and we create a special series of articles. This is our experiment not a reference manual. You can contribute to this tutorial if you are part of Sage-Code core team. In parallel we create quiz. If you pass this quiz we will recognize you as a Zig developer and you will be considered for a position in tech to implement real projects.
Other resources
Read next: Zig Syntax