Getting Started

🚀 Getting Started with Sere

From your first .sere file to your first native executable.

Welcome to Sere.

If you've already read Home, you know the basic idea:

Python-like syntax. Static types. Native code. Low-level control.

This page gets you from zero to a working Sere program.

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📋 What You'll Learn

By the end of this guide, you'll know how to:

• 🛠️ Set up the Sere toolchain

• 📁 Create a Sere project

• ✍️ Write your first .sere program

• 🔨 Compile Sere source

• ▶️ Run a Sere program

• 🧠 Use variables and types

• 🧩 Define functions

• 📦 Work with collections

• 🏗️ Define structs

• 🧪 Analyze your code

• ⚙️ Understand what happens during compilation

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🛠️ Prerequisites

Sere is currently developed around a native LLVM-based toolchain.

The compiler development environment currently targets:

Dependency | Version -- | -- CMake | 3.28+ Ninja | 1.11+ Visual Studio Build Tools | 2022 LLVM | 22.1.8

For the complete CLI reference, see Compiler CLI.

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📁 Creating a Project

Once you've moved beyond a single file, use the project tooling.

Create a project:

sere init myapp

Enter it:

cd myapp

Build it:

sere build

Run it:

sere run

Clean generated files:

sere clean

This gives larger Sere applications a consistent project workflow instead of requiring every project to invent its own build process.

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🧭 Where to Go Next

You've now seen the basic shape of Sere.

From here, pick your path.

🟢 Learn the Language

If you're here to write Sere:

• Language Reference

• Types

• Functions

• Classes

• Structs

• Enums

• Pattern Matching

• Generics

• Memory and Pointers

• Macros

• Modules and Imports

🔵 Build Applications

If you're ready to make something:

• Projects

• Compiler CLI

• Standard Library

• Native Interop

• Platform APIs

🟣 Hack on Sere

If you're here to work on the compiler:

• Architecture

• Frontend

• Backend

• LLVM

• Runtime

• Language Server

• Testing

• Extending Sere

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🎯 Your First Challenge

Try building this yourself:

struct Person:
    name: str
    age: i32
def introduce(person: Person) -> void:
print(f"Hello, I'm {person.name} and I'm {person.age} years old.")
def main() -> i32:
person = Person("Ada", 36)
introduce(person)

return 0

Compile it.

Run it.

Then start changing it.

Add another field.

Add another function.

Create a list of people.

Experiment.

That's where Sere starts becoming more than syntax.

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🪶 What's Next?

You've got the basics.

Now it's time to learn how Sere actually works.

→ Language Reference

Or, if compiler internals are more your thing:

→ Architecture

Welcome to Sere.

Now go build something.