0. Getting Started

This chapter gets a TalkTalk program running. We will build the compiler, run one file, and then create a small project. For now, building from the repository is the dependable way to install it.

Install

curl -fsSL https://tlk.sh/install | sh

or if you want to install it somewhere else:

curl -fsSL https://tlk.sh/install | INSTALL_DIR="$HOME/.local/bin" sh

Make sure to check which talk to make sure it returns the bin you just installed. Some systems already have a talk executable on the PATH¹.

Run one file

Create hello.tlk:

print("Hello, TalkTalk!")

Then run it:

talk run hello.tlkHello, TalkTalk!

A source file may contain declarations and top-level statements. The value of the final top-level expression is printed when it is not Void:

func square(_ n: Int) -> Int { n * n }

square(6)

This prints 36.

Use talk check when you only want diagnostics:

talk check hello.tlk

Both commands accept - as standard input where a source filename is accepted.

Create a package

talk new hellocd hellotalk runHello, Talk!talk test

The generated package contains:

hello/
  package.tlk
  package.lock
  src/main.tlk
  tests/hello.test.tlk

package.tlk declares the package's build products and dependencies. package.lock records the resolved dependency graph and should be checked in. Inside a package, talk run chooses the package binary and talk check checks the package targets and tests.

Arguments after -- are passed to the program:

talk run -- one two three

They are available through OS.argc() from the os standard-library module.

Editor support

The compiler includes an LSP server and plain Neovim runtime files:

talk setup nvimtalk lsp --stdiotalk completions fish

talk completions also supports Bash, Elvish, PowerShell, and Zsh. The repository includes a VS Code extension under dev/editors/vscode.

Where to next

Read Syntax and Values and Types for the language's basic shape. Data and Patterns, Generics and Protocols, and Effects cover the features that most distinguish TalkTalk.