carbon-lang

# Carbon Language: <br/> An experimental successor to C++

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<p align="center">
  <a href="#why-build-carbon">Why?</a> |
  <a href="#language-goals">Goals</a> |
  <a href="#project-status">Status</a> |
  <a href="#getting-started">Getting started</a> |
  <a href="#join-us">Join us</a>
</p>

**See our [announcement video](https://youtu.be/omrY53kbVoA) from
[CppNorth](https://cppnorth.ca/).** Note that Carbon is
[not ready for use](#project-status).

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     alt="Quicksort code in Carbon. Follow the link to read more.">
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**Fast and works with C++**

-   Performance matching C++ using LLVM, with low-level access to bits and
    addresses
-   Interoperate with your existing C++ code, from inheritance to templates
-   Fast and scalable builds that work with your existing C++ build systems

**Modern and evolving**

-   Solid language foundations that are easy to learn, especially if you have
    used C++
-   Easy, tool-based upgrades between Carbon versions
-   Safer fundamentals, and an incremental path towards a memory-safe subset

**Welcoming open-source community**

-   Clear goals and priorities with robust governance
-   Community that works to be welcoming, inclusive, and friendly
-   Batteries-included approach: compiler, libraries, docs, tools, package
    manager, and more

## Why build Carbon?

C++ remains the dominant programming language for performance-critical software,
with massive and growing codebases and investments. However, it is struggling to
improve and meet developers' needs, as outlined above, in no small part due to
accumulating decades of technical debt. Incrementally improving C++ is
[extremely difficult](/docs/project/difficulties_improving_cpp.md), both due to
the technical debt itself and challenges with its evolution process. The best
way to address these problems is to avoid inheriting the legacy of C or C++
directly, and instead start with solid language foundations like
[modern generics system](#generics), modular code organization, and consistent,
simple syntax.

Existing modern languages already provide an excellent developer experience: Go,
Swift, Kotlin, Rust, and many more. **Developers that _can_ use one of these
existing languages _should_.** Unfortunately, the designs of these languages
present significant barriers to adoption and migration from C++. These barr