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refaktor/rye

a language trying to be flexible about expression, but strict about state
Source code at GitHub https://ryelang.org
refaktor/rye.json
{
  "createdAt": "2020-08-05T09:53:50Z",
  "defaultBranch": "main",
  "description": "a language trying to be flexible about expression, but strict about state",
  "fullName": "refaktor/rye",
  "homepage": "https://ryelang.org",
  "language": "Go",
  "name": "rye",
  "pushedAt": "2025-11-25T00:52:44Z",
  "stargazersCount": 627,
  "topics": [
    "console",
    "factor",
    "golang",
    "programming-language",
    "rebol",
    "ryelang"
  ],
  "updatedAt": "2025-11-25T00:52:50Z",
  "url": "https://github.com/refaktor/rye"
}

Rye language 🌾

Section titled “Rye language 🌾”

Build and Test golangci-lint OpenSSF Scorecard Go Reference Go Report Card GitHub Release Homebrew

For comprehensive documentation, tutorials, and examples, visit ryelang.org

What is Rye?

Section titled “What is Rye?”

Rye is a high-level, dynamic programming language inspired by Rebol, Factor, Linux shells, and Go. It features a Go-based interpreter and interactive console, making it an excellent scripting companion for Go programs. Rye can also be embedded into Go applications as a scripting or configuration language.

Key characteristics:

  • Homoiconic: Code is data, data is code
  • Function-oriented: No keywords, everything is a function call
  • Expression-based: Everything returns a value
  • First-class functions: Functions and code blocks are values
  • Multiple dialects: Specialized interpreters for different tasks
  • Safety-focused: Explicit state changes, pure/impure function separation, validation dialect

Status: Alpha - Core language design is stable, focus is on improving runtime, documentation, and usability.

Quick Examples

Section titled “Quick Examples”
print "Hello World"


"Hello World" .replace "World" "Mars" |print
; prints: Hello Mars


"12 8 12 16 8 6" .load .unique .sum
; returns: 42


{ "Anne" "Joan" "Adam" } |filter { .first = "A" } |for { .print }
; prints:
; Anne
; Adam


fac: fn { x } { either x = 1 { 1 } { x * fac x - 1 } }
; function that calculates factorial
range 1 10 |map { .fac } |print\csv
; prints: 1,2,6,24,120,720,5040,40320,362880,3628800


kind: "admin"
Open sqlite://data.db |Query { select * from user where kind = ?kind }
; returns: Table of admins


Read %name.txt |fix { "Anonymous" } |Post* https://example.com/postname 'text
; makes HTTP post of the name read from a file, or "Anonymous" if file failed to be read

For more examples and interactive demos, visit ryelang.org/meet_rye/

Building Rye from Source

Section titled “Building Rye from Source”

Prerequisites

Section titled “Prerequisites”
  1. Install Go 1.21.5 or later:
    Terminal window
    # Example for Linux
    wget https://go.dev/dl/go1.21.5.linux-amd64.tar.gz
    rm -rf /usr/local/go && tar -C /usr/local -xzf go1.21.5.linux-amd64.tar.gz
    export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/go/bin
    go version

Clone and Build

Section titled “Clone and Build”

  1. Clone the repository:

    Terminal window
    git clone https://github.com/refaktor/rye.git
    cd rye

  2. Build options:

    • Minimal build (fewer modules, smaller binary):

      Terminal window
      go build -tags "b_tiny" -o bin/rye

    • Standard build (most modules included):

      Terminal window
      go build -o bin/rye
      # or simply
      ./build

    • Custom build (select specific modules):

      Terminal window
      go build -tags "b_tiny,b_sqlite,b_http,b_json" -o bin/rye

  3. Run Rye:

    Terminal window
    # Run the REPL
    bin/rye
    

    # Run a script
    bin/rye script.rye

Building WASM Version

Section titled “Building WASM Version”

Rye can run in browsers and other WASM environments:

8085/ryeshell/
GOOS=js GOARCH=wasm go build -tags "b_tiny" -o wasm/rye.wasm main_wasm.go
# or use the helper script
./buildwasm

Running Tests

Section titled “Running Tests”
Terminal window
cd info
../bin/rye . test


# Generate function reference
../bin/rye . doc

Getting Rye (Pre-built)

Section titled “Getting Rye (Pre-built)”

If you prefer not to build from source, you have several options:

Binaries

Section titled “Binaries”

Pre-compiled binaries for Linux, macOS, Windows, and WASM are available under Releases.

Package Managers

Section titled “Package Managers”

  • Homebrew (macOS/Linux):

    Terminal window
    brew install ryelang

  • ArchLinux User Repository (Arch Linux):

    Terminal window
    yay -S ryelang

Docker Images

Section titled “Docker Images”

  • Binary image (includes Rye and Emacs-nox):

    Terminal window
    docker run -ti ghcr.io/refaktor/rye

  • Development image (build from repository):

    Terminal window
    docker build -t refaktor/rye -f .docker/Dockerfile .
    docker run -ti refaktor/rye

Resources

Section titled “Resources”
  • ryelang.org - Official documentation, tutorials, and examples
  • Blog - Latest updates and development news
  • [Examples folder]!(./examples/) - Code examples and demos
  • Asciinema demos - Interactive terminal demos
Section titled “Extensions and Related Projects”

Editor Support

Section titled “Editor Support”

Community and Contact

Section titled “Community and Contact”