Bundler

VintLang Bundler

Overview

The VintLang Bundler compiles .vint source files into standalone Go binaries.

vint bundle yourfile.vint

This allows you to write code in VintLang, bundle it into an executable, and run it on any system without requiring the VintLang interpreter or Go to be installed on the target machine.

Why Use the Bundler?

  • Package and distribute VintLang scripts as self-contained executables
  • End-users don’t need to install Go or VintLang
  • Ideal for deploying scripts, shipping CLI tools, and automating workflows
  • Internally powered by the vintlang/repl package for code execution

Installation Requirements

You need the following tools installed on your system:

1. Go (version 1.18+)

Download and install from the official site: https://go.dev/dl/

Verify installation:

go version

2. Git and Go Modules

Ensure Go modules are enabled:

go env -w GO111MODULE=on

3. VintLang and the Bundler CLI

Install VintLang globally (includes the bundler):

go install github.com/vintlang/vintlang@latest

This makes the vint CLI available, including the bundle command.

Usage

To bundle a .vint file into a binary:

vint bundle hello.vint

This creates a standalone executable named hello in the same directory.

To run the binary:

./hello

Example

Given a simple hello.vint file:

print("Hello, World!")

Run:

vint bundle hello.vint

This generates a binary hello. Execute it:

./hello

Expected output:

Hello, World!

How It Works

The bundler performs the following steps internally:

  1. Reads the .vint source file
  2. Escapes characters as needed for embedding in Go
  3. Generates a temporary main.go that runs the embedded code via repl.Read(...)
  4. Initializes a temporary Go module and compiles the binary using go build
  5. Outputs a binary named after the original .vint file

No external dependencies are required to run the resulting binary.

Output Structure

The generated Go code looks like this:

package main

import (
	"github.com/vintlang/vintlang/repl"
)

func main() {
	code := ` + "`<your VintLang source code>`" + `
	repl.Read(code)
}

Use Cases

  • Distribute command-line tools built in VintLang
  • Deploy scripts on systems where VintLang is not installed
  • Share portable binaries for automation or education
  • Build lightweight tools using VintLang and Go’s compiler

Notes for Developers

  • Temporary build directories are automatically created and cleaned
  • Uses text/template for safe source code embedding
  • The Go module created during bundling is isolated from your current project
  • Spinner and CLI output are available for build feedback

Important Details

  • Go is required only during build time
  • The resulting binary is portable and self-contained
  • Cross-compilation is not supported out-of-the-box; build on the target OS/arch

Conclusion

The VintLang Bundler lets you turn .vint files into standalone executables using a simple command:

vint bundle yourfile.vint

Build once. Run anywhere. No dependencies. No interpreter. Just execution.