nac3/README.md

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# NAC3
NAC3 is a major, backward-incompatible rewrite of the compiler for the [ARTIQ](https://m-labs.hk/artiq) physics experiment control and data acquisition system. It features greatly improved compilation speeds, a much better type system, and more predictable and transparent operation.

NAC3 has a modular design and its applicability reaches beyond ARTIQ. The ``nac3core`` module does not contain anything specific to ARTIQ, and can be used in any project that requires compiling Python to machine code.

**WARNING: NAC3 is currently experimental software and several important features are not implemented yet.**

## Packaging

NAC3 is packaged using the [Nix](https://nixos.org) Flakes system. Install Nix 2.8+ and enable flakes by adding ``experimental-features = nix-command flakes`` to ``nix.conf`` (e.g. ``~/.config/nix/nix.conf``).

## Try NAC3

### Linux

After setting up Nix as above, use ``nix shell git+https://github.com/m-labs/artiq.git?ref=nac3`` to get a shell with the NAC3 version of ARTIQ. See the ``examples`` directory in ARTIQ (``nac3`` Git branch) for some samples of NAC3 kernel code.

### Windows

Install [MSYS2](https://www.msys2.org/), and open "MSYS2 CLANG64". Edit ``/etc/pacman.conf`` to add:
```
[artiq]
SigLevel = Optional TrustAll
Server = https://msys2.m-labs.hk/artiq-nac3
```

Then run the following commands:
```
pacman -Syu
pacman -S mingw-w64-clang-x86_64-artiq
```

## For developers

This repository contains:
- ``nac3ast``: Python abstract syntax tree definition (based on RustPython).
- ``nac3parser``: Python parser (based on RustPython).
- ``nac3core``: Core compiler library, containing type-checking and code generation.
- ``nac3standalone``: Standalone compiler tool (core language only).
- ``nac3ld``: Minimalist RISC-V and ARM linker.
- ``nac3artiq``: Integration with ARTIQ and implementation of ARTIQ-specific extensions to the core language.
- ``runkernel``: Simple program that runs compiled ARTIQ kernels on the host and displays RTIO operations. Useful for testing without hardware.

Use ``nix develop`` in this repository to enter a development shell.
If you are using a different shell than bash you can use e.g. ``nix develop --command fish``.

Build NAC3 with ``cargo build --release``. See the demonstrations in ``nac3artiq`` and ``nac3standalone``.