V (Vlang) first major version 0.2 released, a safe, fast and compileable static language

V (Vlang) 0.2 was released. The author announced that this is the first major version. The update focuses on improving stability and optimizing compile-time memory management.

Some update highlights

• -autofreeManage compile-time memory by enabling parameters (planned to be enabled by default in 0.3)
• Provide early support for iOS and Android
• Introduce IO stream
• Introduce channel and lock
• Introduce inline structure (Struct embedding)
• Supports automatic build and deployment of V binary files for Linux/Windows/macOS through GitHub Actions
• Support for C++ compiler: The code generated by the C backend can now be compiled by the C++ compiler
• Generic syntax is more concise, such as using foo(5)insteadfoo<int>(5)
• V can now be run in the browser via WASM
• Improve documentation
• ……

For details, please check  https://github.com/vlang/v/discussions/7474
V 0.3 Roadmap: https://github.com/vlang/v/blob/master/0.3_roadmap.txt

V is a static language that combines the simplicity of Go and the security features of Rust. The author stated that V is very similar to Go. If you know Go, you already know 80% of V. V improves on the basis of Go: https://vlang.io/compare#go .

V main features

• Simple (the author claims to be able to learn V in less than an hour)
• Fast compilation (the compiler is only 400kb, and there is no third-party dependency)
• Easy to develop: V compiles in less than a second
• Security: no null, no global variables, no undefined values, boundary detection, Immutable structure is used by default
• Support C/C++ conversion
• Easy to use cross compilation
• Provide cross-platform UI library
• Built-in graphics library
• Built-in ORM
• Built-in web framework
• ……

Sample code

Database access:

struct User { /* ... */ }
struct Post { /* ... */ }
struct DB   { /* ... */ }

struct Repo <T> {
    db DB
}

fn new_repo<T>(db DB) Repo {
    return Repo<T>{db: db}
}

fn (r Repo) find_by_id(id int) T? { // `?` means the function returns an optional
    table_name := T.name // in this example getting the name of the type gives us the table name
    return r.db.query_one<T>('select * from $table_name where id = ?', id)
}

fn main() {
    db := new_db()
    users_repo := new_repo<User>(db)
    posts_repo := new_repo<Post>(db)
    user := users_repo.find_by_id(1) or {
        eprintln('User not found')
        return
    }
    post := posts_repo.find_by_id(1) or {
        eprintln('Post not found')
        return
    }
} 

Web development:

struct Story {
    title string
}

// Fetches top HN stories in 8 coroutines 
fn main() {
    resp := http.get('https://hacker-news.firebaseio.com/v0/topstories.json')?
    ids := json.decode([]int, resp.body)?
    mut cursor := 0
    for _ in 0..8 {
        go fn() {
            for  {
                lock { // Without this lock the program will not compile 
                    if cursor >= ids.len {
                        break
                    }
                    id := ids[cursor]
                    cursor++
                }
                resp := http.get('https://hacker-news.firebaseio.com/v0/item/$id.json')? 
                story := json.decode(Story, resp.body)?
                println(story.title)
            }
        }()
    }
    runtime.wait() // Waits for all coroutines to finish 
}