SwaziLang

SwaziLang is a scripting language written in C++ that lets you write programs using natural Swahili keywords and syntax.

Want to learn SwaziLang? Get started here →

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Build Instructions

mkdir build && cd build
cmake ..
cmake --build .

To create an installable package for your OS:

make package
# Packages are output to build/packages/

Installing the package (recommended — tracked by your package manager):

sudo apt install ./packages/<package-name>.deb   # Debian/Ubuntu

Or install directly without package tracking:

sudo make install
# Note: uninstallation requires manual removal

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Running SwaziLang

After building, run the executable from the build directory:

./swazi

Or install and add to your system PATH to run from anywhere.

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Dependencies

Most dependencies are managed automatically by CMake via FetchContent or bundled with the build. You do not need Conan to build or use SwaziLang.

Contributors only: If you prefer using Conan for third-party dependency management during development, install it with:

pip install conan
conan --version  # verify installation

mkdir build && cd build
conan install .. --build=missing --output-folder=.

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Keywords

Keyword	Meaning / Usage
data	Declare a variable
thabiti	Declare a constant or a const getter method
kazi	Define a function
tabia	Define a method inside an object or class
rudisha	Return a value from a function or method
chapisha	Print with newline
andika	Print without newline
kweli	Boolean literal: true
sikweli	Boolean literal: false
kama	if statement / as alias in imports
vinginevyo / sivyo	else / else if branch
kwa	for loop
wakati	while loop
fanya	do-while loop
sawa	Equality operator (==)
sisawa	Inequality operator (!=)
na	Logical AND (keyword form of &&)
au	Logical OR (keyword form of ||)
unda	Create a new object/class instance (new)
muundo	Define a class
rithi	Inherit from a class
futa	Manually destroy an object instance
subiri	Await an async operation
tumia	Import a module
kutoka	Specify module source in tumia statements
ruhusu	Export from a module
jaribu	try block
makosa	catch block
kisha	finally block
onesha	Throw an error or exception
ainaya	Unary: returns the type of a value
NINAMBA	Unary: check if value is a number
NINENO	Unary: check if value is a string
NIBOOL	Unary: check if value is a boolean
NIKAZI	Unary: check if value is a function
NIORODHA	Unary: check if value is a list/array
NIOBJECT	Unary: check if value is an object (alias: ob)

Operators & Symbols

• Arithmetic: +, -, *, **, /, %
• Bitwise: standard C bitwise operators
• Parentheses ( ) are used for calling functions and methods — not for declaring them.

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Example

kazi sum(a, b, c):
    rudisha a + b + c;

# This is a comment
data x = 20;
chapisha sum(3, 9, x);  # prints 32

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Comments

Use # for single-line comments.

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Documentation

Full language documentation and learning resources are available at swazilang.netlify.app.

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Contributing

Issues and pull requests are welcome. Feel free to open one if you find a bug or want to improve something.

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License

See LICENSE for details.