CUTE-lang

"C Unified Transpiled Environment language"

C.U.T.E is a scripting language designed for simple integration into C++ environments, hence the abbreviation.

Instead of compiling to C(++)-compatible bytecode, like languages such as Lua, CUTE compiles directly to C++ and supports more extensible and advanced project and management files.

Why does CUTE exist?

CUTE is built to be integrated within a game engine environment and provides a lightweight alternative to traditional scripting solutions.

Instead of embedding a full interpreter or virtual machine, CUTE generates native C-compatible code that can be compiled directly into the host application. This allows engine developers to maintain full control over memory, performance, and execution flow while still providing a flexible scripting layer for gameplay logic.

Design goals of CUTE

1. Minimal runtime overhead. - No embedded interpreter or virtual machine required, only the transpiled code.
2. Native integration. - Outputs native C++ source code or header files.
3. Customizable execution model. - Can use a standard main entry point or use a different C stub for execution.

Project configuration

CUTE projects are defined using a cute.toml file, which specifies source directories, output targets and C++ compiler.

example:

[project]
name = "test"
version = "0.1.0"

[source]
dir = "src/"
entrypoint = "src/main.cute"

[build]
output = "build/"
compiler = "g++"

Current status

CUTE is still in early development. The language design, compiler behavior, and runtime interface are subject to change as the project evolves.

Specification and Documentation

Full language specification and documentation can be found in spec/ and docs/ respectively.

Closing note

CUTE is an experiment in treating scripting not as a separate runtime, but as a compile-time extension of C++ itself. The goal is to keep systems simple, fast, and fully transparent from source code to execution.