Why we built Lightpanda in Zig

6 days ago

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Lightpanda was built in Zig due to its simplicity and performance, avoiding the complexity of C++ and Rust.
Zig offers explicit memory management with allocators, compile-time metaprogramming, and excellent C interoperability.
The team chose Zig over C++ for its simplicity, avoiding decades of accumulated complexity and difficult build systems.
Rust was considered but deemed less suitable due to friction with the borrow checker and unsafe Rust challenges.
Zig's allocator model, particularly arena allocators, provides precise memory control ideal for browser workloads.
Compile-time metaprogramming in Zig reduces boilerplate when integrating with JavaScript and V8.
Zig's build system and fast compilation times enhance developer productivity.
The small but helpful Zig community and straightforward language design make it accessible for new projects.
Lightpanda demonstrates Zig's viability for complex projects like browsers, especially for small teams.

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