Difference between revisions of "Getting Started"

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So, when you have [[Why_switch_to_D|enough reasons]] to try D, let's get your hands dirty.
 
So, when you have [[Why_switch_to_D|enough reasons]] to try D, let's get your hands dirty.
 +
 +
== Your first program ==
 +
 +
For a beginner-friendly, step-by-step introduction on how to build your first D program see the [http://ddili.org/ders/d.en/hello_world.html hello world] section of Ali Çehreli's online book [http://ddili.org/ders/d.en/index.html Programming in D].
  
 
== Choosing a compiler ==
 
== Choosing a compiler ==
−
As you probably already know, D is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compiled_language compiled language], so you have to make your first choice - a compiler.
+
As you probably already know, D is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compiled_language compiled language], so you have to make your first choice: a compiler. There are [[Compilers|several compilers to choose from]].
−
In fact, you have from what to choose - there are couple of [[Compilers|them]].
 
  
−
Every compiler has its own strenght and weaknesses as they differ in:
+
They differ in:
 
* Installation procedure
 
* Installation procedure
 
* Ease of building from source
 
* Ease of building from source
Line 13: Line 16:
 
* Popularity
 
* Popularity
  
−
Whichever you will choose, you shouldn't have bigger problems with changing it. Options might differ, but most of code should be compatible with all of them (if you see any problem, just contact with maintainer).
+
Whichever you will choose, you shouldn't have problems changing it. Options might differ but most code should be compatible with all of them. (If you find problems, please file an issue.)
  
 
== Running D code like a script ==
 
== Running D code like a script ==
−
After you got your compiler installed, you'll probably want to do some coding.
+
After you have your compiler installed you'll want to do some coding.
  
−
For small projects (and your first experiments with language won't be probably too big) it might be useful to merge compilation, and running your code into one phase.
+
For small projects it's handy to compile and run in a single step. A few solutions exist.
  
−
Most (if not all) compiler packages, contain a tool that's named rdmd/gdmd/ldmd or similar. For instructional purposes we'll call it rdmd.
+
=== Using RDMD ===
  
−
Just fill your file (i.e. main.d) with a sample application:
+
The rdmd tool, distributed with dmd or available separately here: https://github.com/D-Programming-Language/tools/blob/master/rdmd.d makes this simple.
 +
 
 +
Just create your source file, e.g. main.d:
 
<syntaxhighlight lang="D">
 
<syntaxhighlight lang="D">
 
import std.stdio;
 
import std.stdio;
Line 30: Line 35:
 
}
 
}
 
</syntaxhighlight>
 
</syntaxhighlight>
−
and type in your commandline
+
and run the command line
 
<pre>rdmd main.d</pre>
 
<pre>rdmd main.d</pre>
  
−
If you properly installed your compiler, you should see 'Hello, world!' on the terminal.
+
If you properly installed the compiler you should see 'Hello, world without explicit compilations!' on the terminal.
 
Isn't that simple?
 
Isn't that simple?
 +
 +
On Unix/Linux systems, you can even use the traditional #! for scripting and set your main.d file to be executable:
 +
<pre> chmod +x main.d</pre>
 +
<syntaxhighlight lang="D">
 +
#!/usr/bin/env rdmd
 +
import std.stdio;
 +
void main()
 +
{
 +
    writeln("Hello, world without explicit compilations!");
 +
}
 +
</syntaxhighlight>
 +
and run the command line just:
 +
<pre>./main.d</pre>
  
 
For more information about this tool you might look at http://dlang.org/rdmd.html or your compiler documentation.
 
For more information about this tool you might look at http://dlang.org/rdmd.html or your compiler documentation.
  
−
You can use exactly the same command for building programs that are made of separate modules, just 'import' in your source code properly. The only limiting factor is compilation time, which should be fast in D.
+
You can use exactly the same command for building programs that are made of separate modules. Just 'import' the other modules.
 +
 
 +
When your programs get larger, consider using a [[build systems|build system]].
 +
 
 +
=== Using DUB ===
 +
 
 +
Since version 1.0, DUB supports single file packages. The DUB properties stand in a DDOC comment located after the script line and before the ''moduleDeclaration''.
 +
For example the file ''a.d''
 +
 
 +
<syntaxhighlight lang="D">
 +
#!/usr/bin/env dub
 +
/+ dub.sdl:
 +
    name "colortest"
 +
    dependency "color" version="~>0.0.3"
 +
+/
  
−
When your programs go larger, you might consider using a [[build systems|build system]]
+
void main()
 +
{
 +
    import std.stdio : writefln;
 +
    import std.experimental.color;
 +
    import std.experimental.color.hsx;
  
 +
    auto yellow = RGBf32(1.0, 1.0, 0.0);
 +
    writefln("Yellow in HSV: %s", cast(HSV!())yellow);
 +
}
 +
</syntaxhighlight>
 +
 +
can be executed with
 +
<pre>dub a.d</pre>
  
 
== Choose your code editor ==
 
== Choose your code editor ==
−
Whether you're an IDE guy, or you like minimalistic text-editor approach, with D you have something to choose.
+
See [[IDEs]] and [[Editors|Text Editors]] to learn about D editing tools.
−
Please, take a look on [[IDEs]] or [[Text Editors]] sections to learn something about it.
 
  
 +
== Using the D language for your domain ==
 +
Do you want to develop a game, web application, desktop application, or use D to drive your robot?
 +
You can find more specialized information for different disciplines at [[Development_With_D|Development with D]].
  
−
== Using D language specific in your field ==
+
== Going further ==
−
As you probably didn't come here out of nowhere, you have specific needs. Maybe you want to develop a game, web application, desktop application, or you want to use D to drive your robot.
+
For tutorials and information about more advanced topics, refer to [[Tutorials]] and [[Books]].
−
You can find more specialized information about different disciplines at [[Development_With_D section]].
 
  
 
== Troubleshooting ==
 
== Troubleshooting ==
 +
Every complex software system might fail in its task. The same rule applies to DMD toolchain and maybe your application.
 +
 +
If you're having compilation/runtime problems and you have no idea why, don't worry. There are some tools that will help.
 +
 +
If your program doesn't compile and the error messages aren't enough, see [[Code Troubleshooting]].
 +
 +
If your program compiled but doesn't do what you want, see [[Debuggers]].
 +
 +
Beyond that, [[Main Page#Community|the D Community]] is very helpful.
 +
 +
And remember: If your problem has to do with the D toolchain or existing D projects, don't forget save some time for others by [http://d.puremagic.com/issues/ reporting it]!
 +
 +
== Searching with search engines==
 +
 +
===General considerations===
 +
Googling for "D" is useless in looking for D related web sites. But Googling for [[https://www.google.com/search?q=d%20programming&rct=j D programming]] or [[https://www.google.com/search?q=d%20language&rct=j D language]] works well. Using '''dlang''' in combination with a search helps D in the TIOBE[http://www.tiobe.com/index.php/content/paperinfo/tpci/programminglanguages_definition.html] index.
 +
 +
If you maintain a web page on D, please refer to it at least once per page as "D programming language" rather than just "D". This should help significantly with your page rank and findability for those interested in D.
 +
 +
===Specific search engine===
 +
 +
Let's say we want to search for the identifier '''indexOf''' using...
 +
 +
* Bing, Google, or DuckDuckGo: add ''site:dlang.org'' to your query. You'll get only the results which belong to the specified site:
 +
 +
  <code>indexOf site:dlang.org</code>
 +
 +
Or add ''"dlang.org"'' to your query:
 +
 +
  <code>indexOf "dlang.org"</code>
 +
 +
* Yahoo search: add ''domain:dlang.org'' to your search string. You'll get results from the specified domain:
 +
 +
  <code>indexOf domain:dlang.org</code>
 +
 +
 +
[[Category:Tutorials]]

Latest revision as of 12:58, 16 July 2020

So, when you have enough reasons to try D, let's get your hands dirty.

Your first program

For a beginner-friendly, step-by-step introduction on how to build your first D program see the hello world section of Ali Çehreli's online book Programming in D.

Choosing a compiler

As you probably already know, D is a compiled language, so you have to make your first choice: a compiler. There are several compilers to choose from.

They differ in:

  • Installation procedure
  • Ease of building from source
  • License
  • Performance
  • Reliability
  • Popularity

Whichever you will choose, you shouldn't have problems changing it. Options might differ but most code should be compatible with all of them. (If you find problems, please file an issue.)

Running D code like a script

After you have your compiler installed you'll want to do some coding.

For small projects it's handy to compile and run in a single step. A few solutions exist.

Using RDMD

The rdmd tool, distributed with dmd or available separately here: https://github.com/D-Programming-Language/tools/blob/master/rdmd.d makes this simple.

Just create your source file, e.g. main.d: 

import std.stdio;
void main()
{
    writeln("Hello, world without explicit compilations!");
}

and run the command line 

rdmd main.d

If you properly installed the compiler you should see 'Hello, world without explicit compilations!' on the terminal. Isn't that simple?

On Unix/Linux systems, you can even use the traditional #! for scripting and set your main.d file to be executable: 

 chmod +x main.d
#!/usr/bin/env rdmd
import std.stdio;
void main()
{
    writeln("Hello, world without explicit compilations!");
}

and run the command line just: 

./main.d

For more information about this tool you might look at http://dlang.org/rdmd.html or your compiler documentation.

You can use exactly the same command for building programs that are made of separate modules. Just 'import' the other modules.

When your programs get larger, consider using a build system.

Using DUB

Since version 1.0, DUB supports single file packages. The DUB properties stand in a DDOC comment located after the script line and before the moduleDeclaration. For example the file a.d 

#!/usr/bin/env dub
/+ dub.sdl:
    name "colortest"
    dependency "color" version="~>0.0.3"
+/

void main()
{
    import std.stdio : writefln;
    import std.experimental.color;
    import std.experimental.color.hsx;

    auto yellow = RGBf32(1.0, 1.0, 0.0);
    writefln("Yellow in HSV: %s", cast(HSV!())yellow);
}

can be executed with 

dub a.d

Choose your code editor

See IDEs and Text Editors to learn about D editing tools.

Using the D language for your domain

Do you want to develop a game, web application, desktop application, or use D to drive your robot? You can find more specialized information for different disciplines at Development with D.

Going further

For tutorials and information about more advanced topics, refer to Tutorials and Books.

Troubleshooting

Every complex software system might fail in its task. The same rule applies to DMD toolchain and maybe your application.

If you're having compilation/runtime problems and you have no idea why, don't worry. There are some tools that will help.

If your program doesn't compile and the error messages aren't enough, see Code Troubleshooting.

If your program compiled but doesn't do what you want, see Debuggers.

Beyond that, the D Community is very helpful.

And remember: If your problem has to do with the D toolchain or existing D projects, don't forget save some time for others by reporting it!

Searching with search engines

General considerations

Googling for "D" is useless in looking for D related web sites. But Googling for [D programming] or [D language] works well. Using dlang in combination with a search helps D in the TIOBE[1] index.

If you maintain a web page on D, please refer to it at least once per page as "D programming language" rather than just "D". This should help significantly with your page rank and findability for those interested in D.

Specific search engine

Let's say we want to search for the identifier indexOf using...

  • Bing, Google, or DuckDuckGo: add site:dlang.org to your query. You'll get only the results which belong to the specified site:
 indexOf site:dlang.org

Or add "dlang.org" to your query: 

 indexOf "dlang.org"
  • Yahoo search: add domain:dlang.org to your search string. You'll get results from the specified domain:
 indexOf domain:dlang.org
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