Kira Language

A readable systems language with explicit ownership.

Kira owns values by default, borrows through function signatures, and uses explicit `move` when ownership transfers. The docs cover the language, the managed toolchain, VM plus LLVM/native execution, hybrid runtime workflows, and the current implementation limits.

Execution Backends

Choose how your code runs. The VM backend is great for development and testing. LLVM/native compilation produces standalone executables and libraries. Hybrid lets runtime and native code cooperate in one process while preserving the same ownership metadata.

  • VM: Bytecode interpreter
  • LLVM Native: Native executables and libraries
  • Hybrid: Mixed runtime/native execution
  • Toolchain: Managed LLVM versions

Key Features

  • • Owned-by-default values with `borrow`, `borrow mut`, and explicit `move`
  • • Multiple backends: VM, native via LLVM, and hybrid execution
  • • No GC or ARC in the core runtime hot path
  • • Managed toolchain with pinned LLVM versions

Documentation