ALZ Programming Language

Write plain English. Runs on Node.js.

Install

npm install -g alz-lang

The install package is called alz-lang but the command you use is just alz.

alz version

That's it. You're ready.

Run a file

alz myapp.alz

Or with the explicit keyword:

alz run myapp.alz

Interactive shell

alz

Opens the ALZ shell where you can type code line by line.

alz › name = "Sara"
alz › print "Hello {name}"
Hello Sara
alz › exit

Other commands

alz build myapp.alz    # compile to myapp.js
alz check myapp.alz    # check for errors without running
alz version            # show version
alz help               # show help

The language

Variables

name   = "Sara"
age    = 25
price  = 9.99
active = true
empty  = null

Output

print "Hello"
print "Hello {name}"
print "Name: {name}, Age: {age}"
print

Input

name = ask "What is your name? "
print "Hello {name}"

Conditions

if age > 18:
    print "Adult"
else if age == 18:
    print "Just 18"
else:
    print "Minor"

if name is "Sara":
    print "Found her"

if name isnt "Bob":
    print "Not Bob"

Loops

repeat 5:
    print "Hello"

repeat 5 as i:
    print "Step {i}"

each item in items:
    print item

repeat until score > 100:
    score = score + 10

Functions

define greet(name):
    print "Hello {name}"

define add(a, b):
    return a + b

greet("World")
result = add(10, 5)
print result

Lists

fruits = ["apple", "mango", "banana"]
fruits.add("grape")
fruits.remove("mango")
fruits.sort()
print fruits.length
print fruits.has("apple")

Objects

user = { name: "Sara", age: 25 }
print user.name
user.age = 26

Math

x = round(3.7)
x = floor(9.9)
x = sqrt(16)
x = abs(-5)
x = max(3, 7)
x = min(3, 7)
x = power(2, 8)
x = random()

Files

content = read "notes.txt"
write "notes.txt" "Hello World"
add to "notes.txt" "New line"
delete "notes.txt"
exists = file exists "notes.txt"

HTTP

data = fetch "https://api.example.com/users"
print data

Web server

serve on 3000:
    route "/":
        respond "Hello World"

    route "/greet" method="POST":
        name = request.name
        respond "Hello {name}"

Database

No SQL. No setup. Just works.

db.save("users", { name: "Sara", age: 25 })
all    = db.all("users")
one    = db.find("users", { name: "Sara" })
db.update("users", { name: "Sara" }, { age: 26 })
db.remove("users", { name: "Sara" })

Data is stored in .alzdata/ folder as JSON files.

Error handling

try:
    data = fetch "https://api.example.com"
    print data
catch err:
    print "Failed: {err}"

Comments

// single line
# single line
/* multi
   line */

How it works

your .alz file
      ↓
   Lexer        reads your code, produces tokens
      ↓
   Parser       turns tokens into a tree (AST)
      ↓
   Codegen      converts the tree to JavaScript
      ↓
   Node.js      runs the JavaScript

You never see the JavaScript. You just write ALZ.

License

MIT — ALZ TECH