NovaLang

<img src="docs/nova-banner.svg" alt="NovaLang" width="480"> <a href="README.md">English</a> | <a href="README_CN.md">简体中文</a> <a href="https://github.com/CoderKuo/NovaLang/actions/workflows/release.yml"><img src="https://github.com/CoderKuo/NovaLang/actions/workflows/release.yml/badge.svg" alt="Build"></a> <a href="https://jitpack.io/#CoderKuo/NovaLang"><img src="https://jitpack.io/v/CoderKuo/NovaLang.svg" alt="JitPack"></a> <a href="https://github.com/CoderKuo/NovaLang/releases/latest"><img src="https://img.shields.io/github/v/release/CoderKuo/NovaLang?color=blue&label=release" alt="Release"></a> <img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/Java-8%2B-orange" alt="Java 8+"> <img src="https://img.shields.io/github/languages/code-size/CoderKuo/NovaLang" alt="Code Size"> <a href="https://github.com/CoderKuo/NovaLang/stargazers"><img src="https://img.shields.io/github/stars/CoderKuo/NovaLang?style=social" alt="Stars"></a> Kotlin-inspired syntax · Seamless Java interop · Async/await · TypeScript-friendly <a href="https://nova.geekyunfu.com">Website</a> • <a href="#features">Features</a> • <a href="#quick-start">Quick Start</a> • <a href="#examples">Examples</a> • <a href="#documentation">Documentation</a> • <a href="#architecture">Architecture</a>

Features

Modern Syntax

Kotlin-inspired syntax that's concise, expressive, and easy to learn.

val name = "Nova"
var count = 0

fun greet(who: String): String {
    return "Hello, $who!"
}

class Point(val x: Int, val y: Int) {
    fun distance(): Double = sqrt(x * x + y * y)
}

Async/Await Support

Built-in asynchronous programming with async/await.

val result = async {
    // concurrent computation
    heavyComputation()
}

println(await result)

Java Interoperability

Seamlessly call Java classes and implement Java interfaces.

import java java.util.ArrayList
import java java.lang.Runnable

val list = ArrayList<String>()
list.add("Hello")

val runner = object : Runnable {
    fun run() {
        println("Running from Nova!")
    }
}

Rich Type System

Classes, interfaces, enums, and objects
Generic types with reified type parameters
Extension functions
Nullable types with safe operators (?., ?:, !!)

Standard Library

Comprehensive stdlib with collections, I/O, JSON, HTTP, and more.

val numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
val doubled = numbers.map { it * 2 }
val filtered = numbers.filter { it > 2 }

val json = parseJson("{\"name\": \"Nova\"}")
println(json["name"])

Multiple Execution Modes

REPL: Interactive shell for experimentation
Script: Execute .nova files directly
Embedded: Use as a library in Java/Kotlin applications
JSR-223: Standard scripting engine integration

Quick Start

Add Dependency (JitPack)

Gradle (Kotlin DSL)

repositories {
    maven { url = uri("https://jitpack.io") }
}

dependencies {
    implementation("com.github.CoderKuo.NovaLang:nova-runtime-all:v0.1.14")
}

Gradle (Groovy)

repositories {
    maven { url 'https://jitpack.io' }
}

dependencies {
    implementation 'com.github.CoderKuo.NovaLang:nova-runtime-all:v0.1.14'
}

Maven

<repositories>
    <repository>
        <id>jitpack.io</id>
        <url>https://jitpack.io</url>
    </repository>
</repositories>

<dependency>
    <groupId>com.github.CoderKuo.NovaLang</groupId>
    <artifactId>nova-runtime-all</artifactId>
    <version>v0.1.14</version>
</dependency>

Available modules:

| Module | Description | |--------|-------------| | nova-runtime-all | Full runtime (interpreter + compiler + stdlib) | | nova-runtime-api | Runtime API only (for plugin development) | | nova-bukkit | Bukkit/Spigot integration | | nova-json-gson | JSON provider — Gson | | nova-json-fastjson2 | JSON provider — FastJSON2 | | nova-yaml-snakeyaml | YAML provider — SnakeYAML | | nova-yaml-bukkit | YAML provider — Bukkit Configuration API |

Prerequisites

JDK 8 or higher
Gradle 7.x (or use the included wrapper)

Build from Source

./gradlew build

Run REPL

./gradlew :nova-cli:run

Execute Script

./gradlew :nova-cli:run --args="path/to/script.nova"

Examples

Variables & Functions

val PI = 3.14159
var counter = 0

fun factorial(n: Int): Int {
    if (n <= 1) return 1
    return n * factorial(n - 1)
}

println(factorial(5))  // 120

Control Flow

// If expression
val result = if (x > 0) "positive" else "non-positive"

// When expression (pattern matching)
fun describe(n: Int): String = when (n) {
    0 -> "zero"
    1, 2 -> "small"
    in 3..10 -> "medium"
    else -> "large"
}

// For loop with range
for (i in 1..10) {
    println(i)
}

Collections

// List literal
val items = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

// Map literal
val person = #{"name": "Alice", "age": 30}

// Set literal
val unique = #{1, 2, 3}

// Higher-order functions
val squared = items.map { it * it }
val evens = items.filter { it % 2 == 0 }
val sum = items.reduce { a, b -> a + b }

Classes & Objects

class User(val name: String, var age: Int) {
    fun greet(): String = "Hi, I'm $name"
}

val user = User("Alice", 25)
println(user.greet())

// Singleton object
object Database {
    fun connect() { println("Connected") }
}
Database.connect()

Enums

enum Color {
    RED, GREEN, BLUE
}

fun paint(color: Color) {
    when (color) {
        Color.RED -> println("Painting red")
        else -> println("Painting other")
    }
}

Extension Functions

fun String.shout(): String = this.toUpperCase() + "!"

val msg = "hello"
println(msg.shout())  // HELLO!

Nullable Types

val name: String? = maybeNull()

// Safe call
val length = name?.length()

// Elvis operator
val len = name?.length() ?: 0

// Safe index
val first = list?[0]

Documentation

| Document | Description | |----------|-------------| | Syntax Specification | Complete EBNF grammar | | Usage Guide | How to use NovaLang | | Java Interop | Java integration guide | | Standard Library | Built-in modules | | Reflection API | Runtime type introspection | | Annotation System | Custom annotations | | Syntax Reference | Language syntax with examples | | Changelog | Version history & release notes |

Architecture

NovaLang
├── nova-runtime-api    # Core types (NovaValue, NovaClass, etc.)
├── nova-compiler       # Lexer, Parser, AST
├── nova-ir             # HIR/MIR + Optimization passes
├── nova-runtime        # Interpreter + Stdlib
├── nova-cli            # Command-line interface
├── nova-script         # JSR-223 script engine
├── nova-lsp            # Language Server Protocol
└── vscode-nova         # VS Code extension

Compilation Pipeline

Source Code → Lexer → Parser → AST → HIR → MIR → Interpreter
                                         ↓
                                   Optimization Passes
                                   (CSE, DCE, Inlining, etc.)

VS Code Extension

NovaLang provides a VS Code extension with:

Syntax highlighting
Code completion
Go to definition
Error diagnostics

Located in vscode-nova/ directory.

Security

NovaLang includes a configurable security sandbox:

# Run with sandbox
nova --sandbox STANDARD script.nova

# Sandbox levels
UNRESTRICTED  # No restrictions
STANDARD      # Block dangerous operations
STRICT        # Minimal permissions

Project Status

NovaLang is under active development. Current version: 0.1.11

Visit the official website for interactive playground and documentation.

License

MIT License

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit issues and pull requests.

NovaLang

Install / Use

README

NovaLang

Features

Modern Syntax

Async/Await Support

Java Interoperability

Rich Type System

Standard Library

Multiple Execution Modes

Quick Start

Add Dependency (JitPack)

Prerequisites

Build from Source

Run REPL

Execute Script

Examples

Variables & Functions

Control Flow

Collections

Classes & Objects

Enums

Extension Functions

Nullable Types

Documentation

Architecture

Compilation Pipeline

VS Code Extension

Security

Project Status

License

Contributing