Show HN: Full featured language that compiles to binary
Xi is a full-featured, self-hosting programming language with a C99 backend. It includes built-in dependency injection, typed business-rule features like decision tables, and can compile to native binaries or WebAssembly. A real application called eXstream has been built using the language.
Background
- Xi is a new programming language whose compiler is written in Xi itself (self-hosting), meaning it has reached a level of maturity where it can compile its own source code.
- It targets C99 as a backend, so Xi source code is first translated into C, then compiled into native binaries or WebAssembly (WASM) — this approach leverages existing C compilers for optimization and portability.
- The language includes built-in support for dependency injection (a software pattern where objects receive their dependencies from outside, rather than creating them internally) and decision tables (a structured way to express complex business rules with multiple conditions and actions).
- eXstream is a real application built with Xi, serving as proof that the language can be used for nontrivial projects, not just toy examples.
- The term "Show HN" indicates this was posted to Hacker News, a social news site popular with tech audiences, as a project showcase.