Razen is a modern, intuitive programming language designed for clarity, performance, and ease of use. With a clean syntax inspired by Python and strong type safety, Razen offers an excellent balance between development speed and runtime performance.
Developed by Prathmesh Barot, Basai Corporation.
- Intuitive Syntax: Python-like syntax that's easy to read and write.
- Fast Performance: Built for efficiency with optimized runtime execution.
- Built-in Debugging: Comprehensive debugging tools including step-by-step execution.
- Type Safety: Strong type checking for variables with specialized declaration tokens.
- Rich Library System: Extensive library system with bracket notation for function calls.
- Expressive Conditionals: Clean if/else syntax with support for nested conditions.
- Interactive Mode: Built-in REPL for testing code snippets.
- Lightweight: Small footprint with minimal dependencies.
- Cross-platform support: Works on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
- OOP Support: Class-based object-oriented programming capabilities.
- Colored Output: Built-in support for colored terminal output.
- Robust Error Handling: Comprehensive error handling with try/catch blocks.
- Filesystem Library: Comprehensive filesystem operations for file and directory management.
Razen is under active development with regular updates. The latest version is beta v0.1.76 which brings significant performance improvements and enhanced tooling.
This release focuses on performance optimizations, LLVM integration, and improved developer experience. View the full changelog:
- Faster Installation: Completely revamped installation process that's significantly faster and more lightweight
- LLVM Integration: Experimental support for LLVM-based compilation, enabling more powerful optimizations
- Logging Updates: Renamed logging functions to avoid conflicts (
info→infolog,warn→warnlog, etc.) - VS Code Extension: Improved syntax highlighting and smarter code completion
- Memory Management: Reduced memory usage and optimized performance across the board
- Build System: Streamlined build process with better dependency management
For a complete history of all version changelogs, please visit the changelogs.mdx file or browse the changelogs directory for individual version details.
Razen now provides a single universal installer that works across all major platforms:
# Using curl (Linux/macOS/Windows with Git Bash)
curl -o installer.sh "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/BasaiCorp/razen-lang/main/installer.sh" && chmod +x installer.sh && ./installer.sh# Using wget (Linux)
wget -O installer.sh "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/BasaiCorp/razen-lang/main/installer.sh" && chmod +x installer.sh && ./installer.shFor Windows users:
# Using Git Bash
curl -o installer.sh "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/BasaiCorp/razen-lang/main/installer.sh" && chmod +x installer.sh && ./installer.shNote: Windows installation requires Git Bash, which you can download from https://git-scm.com/downloads
- Git LFS Required: The Razen installer relies on a pre-compiled compiler binary distributed via Git LFS. Please ensure you have Git LFS installed and that it's functioning correctly before running the installer. You can download it from https://git-lfs.github.com/.
- If you encounter issues, ensure Git LFS successfully pulled the compiler binary during the
git clonestep. You can manually rungit lfs pullin the cloned repository directory if needed. - Running Git Bash as Administrator might be necessary for the installer to copy files to system locations.
Environment Requirements:
- Git Bash (from Git for Windows)
- Administrator privileges (recommended)
- Internet connection for downloading dependencies
- At least 2GB free disk space
The installer provides additional options:
./installer.sh # Standard installation/update
./installer.sh force # Force a fresh installation
./installer.sh uninstall # Remove Razen from your systemThis will download and install Razen globally on your system, making the razen command available from anywhere.
To update Razen to the latest version:
razen-updateThis will automatically check for updates and install the newest version if available.
To uninstall Razen:
./installer.sh uninstallor
razen uninstall# Core Commands
razen <filename.rzn> # Run a Razen script
razen new <filename> # Create a new Razen program
razen version # Display version information
razen help # Show help information
# Specialized Tools
razen-debug <filename.rzn> # Debug mode with detailed output
razen-test <filename.rzn> # Test mode for testing scripts
razen-run <filename.rzn> # Clean mode (only shows program output)
razen-update # Update to the latest version
razen-help # Display detailed help with formattingrazen path/to/script.rzn # Standard execution
razen-debug path/to/script.rzn # Debug mode with detailed output
razen-test path/to/script.rzn # Test mode for testing scripts
razen-run path/to/script.rzn # Clean mode (only shows program output)You can create a new Razen program with a template:
razen new helloThis creates a new file hello.rzn with a Hello World template:
# New Razen program created on [current date]
# Powered by Razen Language
# Your code goes here
take message = "Hello, World!";
show message;
# Read user input
read user_input = "What's your name? ";
show "Nice to meet you, " + user_input + "!";
Run it with:
razen-run hello.rzn# Hello World program in Razen
show "Hello, World!";
# Variables with type enforcement
num int = 42; # Numeric variable
str name = "Alice"; # String variable
bool is_active = true; # Boolean variable
var anything = "This can be any type"; # Any type variable
# Mathematical operations
num total = 100 + 50; # Sum calculation
num result = 100 - 50; # Difference calculation
num product = 5 * 10; # Product calculation
num quotient = 20 / 4; # Division calculation
num remainder = 10 % 3; # Modulus calculation
str message = "Hello, " + name + "!";
show message;
# Conditional statements
if (int > 40) {
show "Number is greater than 40";
} else if (int == 40) {
show "Number is exactly 40";
} else {
show "Number is less than 40";
}
# Loops
let i = 0;
while (i < 5) {
show "Loop iteration: " + i;
i = i + 1;
}
# Using library functions
show "Current time: " + date::now();
show "Random number: " + random::int(1, 100);
# Colored output
show(red) "This is a red error message";
show(green) "This is a green success message";
show(yellow) "This is a yellow warning message";
show(blue) "This is a blue information message";
show(purple) "This is a purple highlight message";
show(cyan) "This is a cyan technical message";
# Define a simple function to calculate factorial
fun factorial(n) {
if (n <= 1) {
return 1;
}
return n * factorial(n - 1);
}
# Use the function
num int = 5;
show "Factorial of " + int + " is " + factorial(num);
# Function with multiple parameters
fun greet(name, age) {
show "Hello, " + name + "! You are " + age + " years old.";
}
greet("Alice", 30);
# Import libraries
lib arrlib; # Array library
lib strlib; # String library
lib mathlib; # Math library
lib random; # Random library
lib crypto; # Crypto library for encryption and hashing
# Using library functions with bracket notation
show "Array operations:";
show "Original array: " + [1, 2, 3];
show "After push: " + arrlib::push([1, 2, 3], 4);
show "Join with dash: " + arrlib::join(["a", "b", "c"], "-");
# String operations
show "String operations:";
show "Uppercase: " + strlib::upper("Hello, Razen!");
show "Replace: " + strlib::replace("Hello, Razen!", "Razen", "World");
# Math operations
show "Math operations:";
show "Square root: " + mathlib::sqrt(16);
show "Power: " + mathlib::power(2, 3);
# Random operations
show "Random operations:";
show "Random integer (1-10): " + arndom::int(1, 10);
show "Random choice: " + Random::choice(["apple", "banana", "cherry"]);
# Crypto operations
show "Crypto operations:";
show "Hash of 'Hello, Razen!': " + Crypto::hash("Hello, Razen!");
Check the examples folder for more sample programs and tutorials.
A dedicated command to check for and install updates from the main repository. It shows the current version and latest available version, then performs the update if a newer version is available.
A colorful, well-formatted help command that displays comprehensive information about all available Razen commands, tools, and usage examples.
Creates a new Razen program with a template to help you get started quickly. Automatically adds the .rzn extension if not provided.
Runs a Razen program in debug mode with detailed output, showing each step of execution.
razen-debug my-program.rznRuns a Razen program in test mode, useful for testing scripts and validating functionality.
razen-test my-program.rzn- Core files:
/usr/local/lib/razen - Examples:
/usr/local/lib/razen/examples - Scripts:
/usr/local/lib/razen/scripts - Library Files:
/usr/local/lib/razen/properties/libs
- Core files:
C:\Program Files\Razen - Examples:
C:\Program Files\Razen\examples - Scripts:
C:\Program Files\Razen\scripts - Executables:
C:\Program Files\Razen\bin
Razen supports different variable types with type enforcement:
-
num: For numeric values (integers and floats)
num count = 42; num price = 9.99; -
str: For string values
str name = "John"; str message = "Hello, World!"; -
bool: For boolean values
bool is_active = true; bool has_permission = false; -
var: For any type (no type restrictions)
var anything = 42; var anything = "Now I'm a string"; var anything = true;
- num: For numeric operations & mathematical operations
num total = 100 + 50; # Sum calculation num result = 100 - 50; # Difference calculation num product = 5 * 10; # Product calculation num quotient = 20 / 4; # Division calculation num remainder = 10 % 3; # Modulus calculation
- list, arr, append, remove: For array operations
list fruits = ["apple", "banana", "orange"]; # Dynamic array arr<num> temperatures = [72, 68, 75, 79, 71]; # Fixed-size array append(fruits, "mango"); # Array with appended element remove(fruits, "banana"); # Array after removal
- map, key, value: For dictionary operations
map userProfile = { "name": "Alex", "age": 28, "isActive": true } # Key-value storage using arrays for (key in userProfile) { show key + ": " + userProfile:key; } # Dictionary keys for (value in userProfile) { show value; } # Dictionary values
- store, box, ref: For special variable operations
store userData = loadUserData(); saveToStore(userData); # Persistent storage with box tempFile = File["open"]("data.txt") { # Process file # File will be automatically closed when exiting this block } # Temporary storage ref currentUser = users:activeIndex; currentUser:lastLogin = now(); # Reference to another variable
Razen supports class-based object-oriented programming with a clean and intuitive syntax.
class Person {
# Constructor (implicitly called when creating new instances)
fun init(name, age) {
this:name = name;
this:age = age;
}
# Method to display information
fun display() {
show "Name: " + this:name + ", Age: " + this:age;
}
# Method to have a birthday
fun haveBirthday() {
this:age = this:age + 1;
show this:name + " is now " + this:age + " years old!";
}
}
# Create a new Person instance
put person = new Person("John", 30);
# Call methods
person::display();
person::haveBirthday();
Razen supports class inheritance using the extends keyword:
class Employee extends Person {
fun init(name, age, position) {
super:init(name, age);
this:position = position;
}
fun display() {
super:display();
show "Position: " + this:position;
}
}
See the examples directory for complete object-oriented programming examples.
Razen is licensed under a custom license. See the LICENSE file for details.
Key points:
- You can use Razen for personal and commercial projects
- You can create libraries and applications using Razen
- You cannot modify, rebrand, or redistribute the core language
- You must include attribution: "Powered by Razen - © 2025 Prathmesh Barot"
When using Razen in your projects, please include the following attribution:
Powered by Razen - © 2025 Prathmesh Barot, Basai Corporation
For questions, support, or feedback about Razen, please contact:
Official website coming soon!