Quick Start

Why This Matters

This guide gets you from zero to a working compile/check/run/test loop fast.

1. Run Your First Program

arden run examples/single_file/basics/01_hello/01_hello.arden

Then inspect:

• examples/single_file/basics/02_variables/02_variables.arden
• examples/single_file/basics/04_control_flow/04_control_flow.arden

2. Learn Safety Early

Run ownership and async examples next:

arden run examples/single_file/safety_and_async/10_ownership/10_ownership.arden
arden run examples/single_file/safety_and_async/14_async/14_async.arden
arden run examples/single_file/safety_and_async/41_async_boundary_rules/41_async_boundary_rules.arden

3. Learn Effects and Testing

arden run examples/single_file/tooling_and_ffi/26_effect_system/26_effect_system.arden
arden test --path examples/single_file/tooling_and_ffi/24_test_attributes/24_test_attributes.arden

4. Use check During Development

arden check examples/single_file/safety_and_async/10_ownership/10_ownership.arden

check is the fastest way to validate syntax + types + borrow rules without full final artifact flow.

Quick Syntax Survival Notes

• use mut only when variable reassignment is needed
• &x is read-only borrow, &mut x is exclusive mutable borrow
• stdlib module calls (Math.*, Str.*, Time.*, System.*, Args.*, File.*) require explicit imports
• main() must be synchronous and return None or Integer

5. Start A Project

arden new my_project
cd my_project
arden run

Inspect project config:

arden info

6. Add Quality Commands

arden test
arden fmt
arden lint

7. Explore Language Edges

arden run examples/single_file/language_edges/44_exact_import_values/44_exact_import_values.arden
arden run examples/single_file/language_edges/45_interface_inline_body_rules/45_interface_inline_body_rules.arden

Next Docs

• Syntax
• Types
• Functions
• Packages and Imports
• Language Edges
• Ownership
• Effects
• Extern and FFI
• CLI Reference

Full Example Index

• examples/README
• Args example