Getting started¶

This page shows how to build the compiler and how to compile a first program.

Requirements¶

AIHC does not have a binary release. Build the compiler from source.

The repository has a Nix flake. The flake gives a development environment with GHC, Cabal, Clang, and the other tools. Install Nix and enable flakes.

Clone the repository and enter the development environment:

git clone https://github.com/ai-haskell-compiler/aihc.git
cd aihc
nix develop

Build the aihc executable:

cabal build exe:aihc

Do not use cabal build all. Some packages in the repository build only with AIHC.

Find the executable:

cabal list-bin exe:aihc

Put the directory of the executable on your PATH, or run the commands below with cabal run aihc --.

Write a main module:

Main.hs

module Main (main) where

main :: IO ()
main = putStrLn "Hello from AIHC"

Build the program:

aihc build Main.hs --output hello
./hello

The first build installs the core libraries into the AIHC store. This step takes several minutes. The next builds use the stored libraries.

aihc build accepts a local package directory or a Hackage package name:

aihc build ./my-package
aihc build hlint-3.10

AIHC builds each executable of the package. It solves the dependency plan and writes it to aihc.lock. See Command line for the options.

AIHC compiles to these targets:

Target	Description
`apple-arm64`	Native code for macOS on ARM64.
`linux-amd64`	Native code for Linux on AMD64.
`llvm`	LLVM IR, compiled with Clang.
`wasm32-wasip3`	WebAssembly with the WASI preview 3 interface.

The default target is the native target of the host. Use --target to select a different target:

aihc build Main.hs --target wasm32-wasip3 --output hello.wasm