# The Sidef Programming Language
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```
**A modern, high-level programming language for versatile general-purpose applications**
[Website](https://github.com/trizen/sidef) β’ [Tutorial](https://codeberg.org/trizen/sidef/src/branch/master/TUTORIAL.md) β’ [Documentation](https://trizen.gitbook.io/sidef-lang/) β’ [Try Online](https://tio.run/#sidef) β’ [Discussions](https://github.com/trizen/sidef/discussions)
[](https://metacpan.org/release/Sidef)
[](https://www.perlfoundation.org/artistic-license-20.html)
---
## π Overview
Sidef is a modern, expressive programming language that combines the elegance of Ruby, the versatility of Raku, and the mathematical capabilities of Julia. Designed for both beginners and advanced programmers, Sidef offers a rich feature set for diverse programming paradigms.
## β¨ Key Features
|
**Programming Paradigms**
- Object-oriented programming
- Functional programming
- Functional pattern matching
- Multiple dispatch
|
**Language Features**
- Optional lazy evaluation
- Lexical scoping & closures
- Keyword arguments
- Regular expressions
|
|
**Integration & Performance**
- Seamless Perl module integration
- Optional dynamic type checking
- Efficient execution model
|
**Numeric Computing**
- Big integers
- Rational numbers
- Arbitrary precision floats
- Complex numbers
|
## π Quick Start
### Installation
**Via CPAN:**
```bash
cpan Sidef
```
**Platform-specific:**
- **Arch Linux**: [AUR package](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/sidef/)
- **Slackware**: [SlackBuilds](https://slackbuilds.org/repository/15.0/perl/perl-Sidef/)
- **Other systems**: See [pkgs.org](https://pkgs.org/download/perl-Sidef)
### Hello World
```ruby
say "Hello, World!"
```
### Try It Online
Experiment with Sidef instantly at **[Try It Online](https://tio.run/#sidef)** without any installation.
## π Documentation & Learning Resources
### Tutorials
- **[Beginner's Tutorial](https://codeberg.org/trizen/sidef/src/branch/master/TUTORIAL.md)** ([PDF](https://github.com/trizen/sidef/releases/download/26.01/sidef-tutorial.pdf)) - Start your Sidef journey
- **[Number Theory Tutorial](https://codeberg.org/trizen/sidef/src/branch/master/NUMBER_THEORY_TUTORIAL.md)** ([PDF](https://github.com/trizen/sidef/releases/download/26.01/sidef-number-theory.pdf)) - Mathematical programming with Sidef
### Reference Materials
- **[Sidef GitBook](https://trizen.gitbook.io/sidef-lang/)** ([PDF](https://github.com/trizen/sidef/releases/download/26.01/sidef-book.pdf)) - Comprehensive language guide
- **[RosettaCode Examples](https://rosettacode.org/wiki/Sidef)** - Practical code examples
## π¬ Community & Support
Have questions or need help? Join the conversation:
- **[Discussion Forum](https://github.com/trizen/sidef/discussions/categories/q-a)** - Q&A and community discussions
- **[GitHub Issues](https://github.com/trizen/sidef/issues)** - Bug reports and feature requests
## π― Code Examples
### The Y Combinator
Demonstrating functional programming with the [Y combinator](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed-point_combinator#Fixed-point_combinators_in_lambda_calculus):
```ruby
var y = ->(f) {->(g) {g(g)}(->(g) { f(->(*args) {g(g)(args...)})})}
var fac = ->(f) { ->(n) { n < 2 ? 1 : (n * f(n-1)) } }
say 10.of { |i| y(fac)(i) } #=> [1, 1, 2, 6, 24, 120, 720, 5040, 40320, 362880]
var fib = ->(f) { ->(n) { n < 2 ? n : (f(n-2) + f(n-1)) } }
say 10.of { |i| y(fib)(i) } #=> [0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34]
```
### Sierpinski Triangle
ASCII generation of the [Sierpinski triangle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierpinski_triangle):
```ruby
func sierpinski_triangle(n) {
var triangle = ['*']
{ |i|
var sp = (' ' * 2**i)
triangle = (triangle.map {|x| sp + x + sp} +
triangle.map {|x| x + ' ' + x})
} * n
triangle.join("\n")
}
say sierpinski_triangle(4)
```
Show Output
```text
*
* *
* *
* * * *
* *
* * * *
* * * *
* * * * * * * *
* *
* * * *
* * * *
* * * * * * * *
* * * *
* * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
```
### Mandelbrot Set
ASCII visualization of the [Mandelbrot set](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandelbrot_set):
```ruby
func mandelbrot(z, r=20) {
var c = z
r.times {
z = (z*z + c)
return true if (z.abs > 2)
}
return false
}
for y in (1 `downto` -1 `by` 0.05) {
for x in (-2 `upto` 0.5 `by` 0.0315) {
print(mandelbrot(Complex(x, y)) ? ' ' : '#')
}
print "\n"
}
```
Show Output
```text
#
# ### #
########
#########
######
## ## ############ #
### ################### #
#############################
############################
################################
################################
#################################### #
# # ###################################
########### ###################################
########### #####################################
############## ####################################
####################################################
######################################################
#########################################################################
######################################################
####################################################
############## ####################################
########### #####################################
########### ###################################
# # ###################################
#################################### #
################################
################################
############################
#############################
### ################### #
## ## ############ #
######
#########
########
# ### #
#
```
### More Examples
Explore an extensive collection of Sidef programs at **[github.com/trizen/sidef-scripts](https://github.com/trizen/sidef-scripts)**
## π₯οΈ Interactive Mode
Sidef includes a REPL (Read-Eval-Print Loop) for interactive programming:
## π¦ Distribution Availability
| Platform | Package | Link |
|----------|---------|------|
| **CPAN** | `Sidef` | [metacpan.org](https://metacpan.org/release/Sidef) |
| **Package Search** | Multiple distributions | [pkgs.org](https://pkgs.org/download/perl-Sidef) |
| **Arch Linux** | `sidef` (AUR) | [AUR Package](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/sidef/) |
| **Slackware** | `perl-Sidef` | [SlackBuilds.org](https://slackbuilds.org/repository/15.0/perl/perl-Sidef/) |
## π€ Contributing
Contributions are welcome! Whether it's:
- Reporting bugs
- Suggesting new features
- Improving documentation
- Submitting pull requests
Please visit the [GitHub repository](https://github.com/trizen/sidef) to get involved.
## π License and Copyright
**Copyright Β© 2013-2026 Daniel Θuteu, Ioana FΔlcuΘan**
This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the **Artistic License (2.0)**.
**Full license**: [perlfoundation.org/artistic-license-20.html](https://www.perlfoundation.org/artistic-license-20.html)
### Key License Points
- Use, modification, and distribution governed by the Artistic License
- Modified versions must comply with license requirements
- No trademark or logo usage rights granted
- Includes patent license for necessary claims
- Patent litigation terminates license
**Warranty Disclaimer**: THE PACKAGE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND. See full license for details.
---
**Made with β€οΈ by the Sidef community**
[β Star us on GitHub](https://github.com/trizen/sidef) β’ [π Read the docs](https://trizen.gitbook.io/sidef-lang/) β’ [π¬ Join discussions](https://github.com/trizen/sidef/discussions)