Lizard

	Lizard is a Python‑compatible language that adds curly braces and optional semicolons to Python syntax, with a self‑hosted compiler that targets clean Python via the ast module.

def hello_world() {
    print("Hello World!");
}

if True {
    hello_world();
}

Transpiled output:

def hello_world():
    print('Hello World!')

if True:
    hello_world()

Features

• Python‑compatible syntax with {} blocks and optional ;
• Lexer → parser → AST → ast.unparse pipeline (no text‑based indentation tricks)
• Supports comprehensions, decorators, and triple‑quoted strings
• Runs on the standard Python runtime
• Self‑hosting compiler (Lizard in Lizard), bootstrapped from Python
• VSCode syntax highlighting support

Examples

• Hello world: examples/hello.lz
• Factorial: examples/factorial.lz
• Comprehensions + dict/set literals: examples/comprehensions.lz
• Decorators: examples/decorators.lz
• Multiline strings: examples/multiline_strings.lz

Installation

• PyPI: lizard-lang
• VSCode Extension: Lizard Lang

pip install lizard-lang

Run:

lizard examples/hello.lz

Development

pytest

Current Status

Lizard is experimental.

Implemented:

• lexer + parser + AST pipeline
• brace blocks and semicolon‑optional syntax
• Python code generation via ast.unparse
• self‑hosting compiler (Lizard in Lizard)

Planned:

• formatter
• LSP support
• LLVM + hybrid FFI backend

Why?

Because some developers prefer:

if (condition) {
    doSomething();
}

over:

if condition:
    do_something()

Lizard explores whether Python can support both styles while staying fully compatible with Python semantics.

License

MIT