https://github.com/a-boring-square/thorium

A statically-typed functional language compiling to Lisp-inspired bytecode, running on a custom VM.
https://github.com/a-boring-square/thorium

bytecode-compiler bytecode-virtual-machine functional-programming programming-language virtual-machine

Last synced: 2 months ago
JSON representation

A statically-typed functional language compiling to Lisp-inspired bytecode, running on a custom VM.

• Host: GitHub
• URL: https://github.com/a-boring-square/thorium
• Owner: A-Boring-Square
• Created: 2025-08-29T22:28:37.000Z (3 months ago)
• Default Branch: main
• Last Pushed: 2025-08-30T00:17:33.000Z (3 months ago)
• Last Synced: 2025-08-30T00:25:21.280Z (3 months ago)
• Topics: bytecode-compiler, bytecode-virtual-machine, functional-programming, programming-language, virtual-machine
• Language: Odin
• Homepage:
• Size: 7.81 KB
• Stars: 0
• Watchers: 0
• Forks: 0
• Open Issues: 0
• Metadata Files:
  • Readme: README.md

Awesome Lists containing this project

README

          


Thorium


Thorium is a statically-typed functional programming language that compiles to Lisp-inspired human-readable bytecode and runs on a custom VM called element90.


It is designed to be simple, inspectable, and educational, while still supporting advanced features like:



    
Immutable and mutable variables (@mut)

    
Lists and arrays

    
Structs and first-class functions

    
External functions and built-in standard library functions

    
Debug metadata for runtime inspection



Distribution


Thorium ships as a ZIP file containing:



element90           # Thorium VM executable

thbc                # Thorium Bytecode Compiler executable

core/               # Standard library modules

src/                # Source code for element90 and thbc





    


element90: runs compiled .thprg programs.

    


thbc: compiles .th source code to .thb (human-readable bytecode) or .thprg (compiled program).

    


core/: standard library modules for Thorium programs.



File Types


ExtensionDescription

.thThorium source code (human-editable)

.thbHuman-readable bytecode (intermediate representation)

.thprgCompiled program suitable for element90

Quick Start




Write a Thorium program (demo.th):


@module demo

@use core.io


int numbers = [1 : 2 : 3 : 4 : 5]

function sum_list : nums int[] : int =

    int total

    total = 0

    for n in nums do

        total = total + n

    ret total

io.print : sum_list : numbers





Compile the program:


./thbc demo.th


This generates demo.thb (inspectable bytecode) and demo.thprg (compiled program).



Run the compiled program:


./element90 demo.thprg





Features




    
Statically typed functional language

    
First-class functions

    
Structs

    
Lists and for loops

    
External functions for integration with other code

    
Built-in debugging support



Use Cases


Thorium is ideal for:



    
Learning how a programming language VM works

    
Exploring functional programming concepts

    
Building small educational projects with a minimal runtime

    
Embedding the VM and program into freestanding executables for distribution