Self-hosting compiler
Rewrite the Havran compiler in Havran itself — the ultimate proof that the language is ready for serious work. Still in the research phase while the core stabilizes.
Where Havran is headed
Goals for each part of the Havran stack — what's shipped, what's in progress, and what's next. Honest and updated as we go.
In progress Planned Exploring Shipped
The Havran compiler — a clean, type-safe language that transpiles to the smallest possible TypeScript.
Incremental builds & watch mode
Sub-second rebuilds for large projects via a persistent compilation cache and a first-class
hvc --watch. Faster feedback is the single biggest quality-of-life win we can ship.- Module-level invalidation
- Cached type information across runs
- HMR-friendly output
Editor tooling & language server
A Language Server Protocol implementation powering autocomplete, inline diagnostics, hover types, and refactors in VS Code and JetBrains IDEs.
Havran val user = User("Ann", 30) user. // ← completions, hover types, go-to-definitionStructured concurrency (async package)
suspendfunctions,asyncScope { }, and cancellation that compiles to cleanasync/awaitwith lifecycle tracking — no zones, no runtime overhead.Data, sealed & enum classes
Tiered lowering shipped: data classes erase to interfaces, sealed interfaces to discriminated unions, and enums to string-literal unions — promoted to real classes only when behavior demands it.
Null-safety & the comparison model
The foundation:
String?→string | undefined,?./?:/!!, and compile-time bans on JavaScript's weird comparisons. The reason Havran exists.
Havran Mark — a concise markup language that transpiles to clean, semantic HTML.
Component syntax
Reusable, typed markup components with slots and props — authored in Havran, rendered to plain HTML with zero client runtime.
Core transpiler
The first milestone: a parser and emitter that turns Havran Mark into semantic, accessible HTML, with attribute checking and Havran string interpolation.
Design & grammar
Pinning down the surface syntax — how elements, attributes, and expressions read — so it feels like a natural sibling of the Havran language.
Havran Mark is early. Want to shape it? The grammar is still up for debate.
HavranStyle — a Sass-inspired styling language that transpiles to modern, optimized CSS.
Typed design tokens
First-class, type-checked design tokens — colors, spacing, typography — shared between HavranStyle and the Havran UI framework so themes stay consistent and refactorable.
Nesting, mixins & functions
The Sass-like ergonomics developers expect — nesting, mixins, and pure functions — compiled to flat, modern CSS with custom properties where it helps.
Core transpiler
A parser and emitter that turns HavranStyle into optimized, minification-friendly CSS, with helpful compile-time errors for invalid properties.
Design & grammar
Defining the syntax and how it interoperates with the rest of the Havran toolchain.
A signals-based UI framework where Havran, Havran Mark, and HavranStyle come together.
Unified developer experience
The end goal: one cohesive stack — Havran for logic, Havran Mark for structure, HavranStyle for style — with a single build, fully interoperable with the existing web ecosystem.
Fine-grained reactivity
A signals-based reactivity model that maps naturally onto Havran's
bydelegation and operator functions, compiling to efficient, minimal DOM updates.Havran var count by signal(0) count++ // updates only what depends on itConcept & prototype
A throwaway prototype to validate the rendering model and the binding contract before any public commitment.
The UI framework is the most ambitious — and the furthest out. Ideas welcome.