amber
💎 Amber the programming language compiled to Bash/Ksh/Zsh
Amber is a new programming language that compiles down to Bash shell scripts, write cleaner, safer automation code and let Amber translate it into the shell script your system actually runs.
Amber is a programming language that compiles to Bash, Ksh, or Zsh, the scripting languages built into most Linux and Mac terminals. The idea is that writing shell scripts in raw Bash is error-prone and difficult to maintain, so Amber gives you a higher-level language with cleaner syntax that then gets converted into Bash automatically.
Shell scripts are the small programs that glue other tools together: copying files, deploying code, restarting services, and so on. Bash, the most common shell scripting language, has a reputation for awkward syntax and surprising behavior. Amber aims to make the same kinds of scripts easier to write correctly, especially for cloud services where shell scripts are used frequently.
The README is brief and directs readers to the project's documentation website for installation instructions and contributing guidelines. The project notes that it is not yet ready for extended usage, meaning it is still in an early stage where breaking changes or missing features are expected.
The language is written in Rust. It has a community on Discord, IRC, and Matrix for anyone who wants to follow development or contribute. Installation details and a contributing guide are available at the documentation site linked from the README.
Where it fits
- Rewrite error-prone bash scripts for deploying code, copying files, or restarting services in Amber's cleaner syntax.
- Write cloud automation scripts in Amber and compile them to portable Bash that runs on any Linux or Mac server without installing Amber.
- Learn shell scripting concepts through Amber's more readable syntax before diving into raw Bash.