**Languages**: [English](README.md) | [简体中文](docs/zh-CN/project.md) | [繁體中文](docs/zh-TW/project.md) | [日本語](docs/ja/project.md) | [한국어](docs/ko/project.md) | [Français](docs/fr/project.md) | [Deutsch](docs/de/project.md) | [Español](docs/es/project.md) | [Italiano](docs/it/project.md) | [Русский](docs/ru/project.md) | [العربية](docs/ar/project.md)
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# NeverC
**The AI-friendly C23 compiler for security research, built on LLVM**
Integrated linker · DynCode pipeline · Built-in runtimes (`string` · `mimalloc` · `xorstr` · `strhash`)
[](LICENSE)
[](#features)
[](#features)
[Documentation](docs/README.md) · [DynCode Guide](docs/dyncode-compiler.md) · [Built-in Runtimes](docs/builtins.md) · [Plugin API](docs/plugin-api.md) · [Roadmap](docs/roadmap.md)
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---
> **Note:** GitHub always shows `README.md` as the repository homepage (no automatic locale detection). Use the language links above; follow in-page links and breadcrumbs to keep the same locale in [docs](docs/README.md) and the [dyncode guide](docs/dyncode-compiler.md).
## Overview
NeverC compiles standard C into hosted binaries, freestanding executables, and position-independent dyncode — all from a single toolchain. It targets **x86_64** and **AArch64** (little-endian only). Future releases will add **EVM** (Ethereum smart contracts) and **Solana eBPF** (on-chain programs) as compilation targets.
## Why NeverC?
C is already the simplest systems language. NeverC makes it even simpler:
- **Pure C23, nothing more** — No templates, no RAII, no operator overloading, no hidden control flow. What you read is what runs.
- **Built-in `string`** — Value-semantic strings with `+`, `==`, `.starts_with()` and automatic cleanup — no C++ required.
- **No exceptions** — Error handling stays explicit. No stack unwinding, no performance surprises.
- **Single binary** — Compiler + linker + runtimes ship as one executable. Zero external dependencies to set up.
- **LLM-friendly** — Minimal grammar and deterministic semantics mean AI-generated NeverC code compiles correctly more often than C++ alternatives.
- **True cross-compilation** — Build Windows PE, Linux ELF, macOS Mach-O, Android ELF, and dyncode from macOS or Linux — no VM, no dual boot, no SDK hunting. Platform SDKs ship inside the compiler.
- **Extensible with zero friction** — A single C header, 130 named compiler phases, and you have a [compiler plugin](docs/plugin-api.md) that can intercept any stage from IR optimization to final binary output — no LLVM knowledge needed.
- **Security research built in** — DynCode compilation, compile-time string encryption, and cross-platform PE generation are native to the toolchain — not afterthoughts bolted on with external scripts.
## Features
- **[DynCode compiler](docs/dyncode-compiler.md)** — multi-stage IR/MIR pipeline, cross-platform extraction, import/syscall lowering, kernel-mode support, bad-byte auditing, and a plugin architecture
- **Integrated linker** — COFF, ELF, and Mach-O in one binary; no external `ld` or `link.exe`
- **[Release stripping](docs/release-builds.md)** — built-in `--strip` / `-s` removes non-runtime symbols and source-level debug information, including kernel-aware `.ko` structural symbol renaming (not a hash or encryption)
- **Cross-compilation** — build Windows PE, Linux ELF, macOS Mach-O, and Android ELF from any host with bundled platform SDKs
- **[Built-in runtimes](docs/builtins.md)** — LLVM bitcode runtimes embedded in the compiler: [`string`](docs/builtins-string.md) (value-semantic string with dot-call methods and automatic memory management), [`mimalloc`](docs/builtins-mimalloc.md) (transparent high-performance allocator override, on by default outside kernel and freestanding targets), [`xorstr`](docs/builtins-xorstr.md) (per-instance compile-time encryption with mandatory late sealing and per-call native expansion), and [`strhash`](docs/builtins-strhash.md) (compile-time string hashing with matching runtime)
- **[Plugin API](docs/plugin-api.md)** — pure C ABI for out-of-tree plugins; single-header SDK with zero LLVM/CRT dependencies, spanning driver, preprocessor, AST, IR, MIR, MC, object, link, LTO, and dyncode phases
- **[`.nc` extension](docs/nc-extension.md)** — use `.nc` as file extension to auto-enable all NeverC features (`string`, Rust-style integer types) without extra flags
- **Lean LLVM build** — only x86_64 and AArch64 backends; C++/ObjC/OpenMP paths stripped
## Quick Example
```c
#include <stdio.h>
typedef struct { string user; string pass; } creds;
int main(void) {
string msg = "Hello " + "NeverC!";
printf("%s\n", msg.c_str());
// Compile-time encryption — `strings ./bin` cannot find these literals
creds login = {.user = "admin".encrypt(), .pass = "s3cret".encrypt()};
string paths[] = {"/api/v1".encrypt(), "/api/v2".encrypt()};
// Zero-allocation decrypt-and-compare (plaintext never fully in memory)
if (login.user == "admin".encrypt() && login.pass == "s3cret".encrypt()) {
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
if (msg.starts_with(paths[i]))
printf("route matched: %s\n", paths[i].c_str());
}
return 0;
}
```
> **Note:** The built-in **`string`** type requires **`-fbuiltin-string`** for `.c` files. It is enabled automatically for [**`.nc` files**](docs/nc-extension.md) and in **`-fdyncode`** mode.
```bash
# macOS arm64 / x86_64
neverc -fdyncode -target arm64-apple-macos hello.c -o hello.bin
neverc -fdyncode -target x86_64-apple-macos hello.c -o hello.bin
# iOS arm64
neverc -fdyncode -target arm64-apple-ios hello.c -o hello.bin
# Linux x86_64 / arm64
neverc -fdyncode -target x86_64-linux-gnu hello.c -o hello.bin
neverc -fdyncode -target aarch64-linux-gnu hello.c -o hello.bin
# Android arm64 / x86_64
neverc -fdyncode -target aarch64-linux-android hello.c -o hello.bin
neverc -fdyncode -target x86_64-linux-android hello.c -o hello.bin
# Windows x86_64 / arm64
neverc -fdyncode -target x86_64-pc-windows-msvc hello.c -o hello.bin
neverc -fdyncode -target aarch64-pc-windows-msvc hello.c -o hello.bin
```
See the **[documentation index](docs/README.md)** for detailed design notes, platform matrix, CLI reference, and examples. For complete buildable samples, see the **[examples](docs/examples.md)** directory.
## Installation
On **Linux x64/arm64** and **macOS arm64**, install the latest release with one command:
```bash
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NeverSight/NeverC/HEAD/install.sh | sh
```
This downloads the release archive for your platform, verifies it against `SHA256SUMS`, installs to `~/.neverc`, and prepends `~/.neverc/bin` to your shell `PATH`.
On **Windows x64/arm64**, run this in **PowerShell 5.1 or later**:
```powershell
irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NeverSight/NeverC/HEAD/install.ps1 | iex
```
The Windows installer detects the native architecture, verifies the release archive against `SHA256SUMS`, and installs to `$HOME\.neverc` without administrator rights. It adds `$HOME\.neverc\bin` to the current session and your user `PATH`, so `neverc` is available immediately and in new terminals.
To pin a specific version:
```bash
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NeverSight/NeverC/v3389.1.2/install.sh | NEVERC_VERSION=v3389.1.2 sh
```
Windows PowerShell:
```powershell
& ([scriptblock]::Create((irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NeverSight/NeverC/HEAD/install.ps1))) -Version v3389.1.2
```
Verify the install:
```bash
neverc --version
neverc hello.c -o hello -fbuiltin-string
```
### `neverc run`
Compile to a temporary executable, run it on the **local host**, and delete the
artifact afterward — similar to `go run`. Use a normal `neverc ... -o out`
invocation when you need to keep the binary.
```bash
neverc run -O2 -fbuiltin-string hello.c
neverc run -O2 main.c helper.nc -- --verbose two words
neverc run hello.c -O1 -- program-arg
```
| Topic | Behavior |
|-------|----------|
| Default split | Compiler flags before the first `.c`/`.nc` file; consecutive sources compile together; remaining arguments are passed to `main` |
| Explicit `--` | Everything before `--` goes to the compiler; everything after goes to the program (for linker flags or other compiler args that follow the sources) |
| Working directory | Runs in your current directory — relative paths behave like a normal binary |
| Environment & I/O | Inherits the environment; stdin/stdout/stderr are connected to the temporary process |
| Exit status | Returns the program exit code; compilation failure returns the compiler exit code and does not run the program |
| Artifact | Stored under a `neverc-run-*` temp directory and removed afterward |
Cross-compilation flags may compile but the temporary binary is always executed
on the host. For argument rules, edge cases, and examples, see
**[`neverc run` →](docs/run.md)**.
The macOS arm64 binary is Apple Developer ID signed and notarized.
Optional installer environment variables:
| Variable | Purpose |
|----------|---------|
| `NEVERC_INSTALL_DIR` | Install prefix (default: `~/.neverc`) |
| `NEVERC_VERSION` | Release tag, e.g. `v3389.1.2` (default: latest) |
| `NEVERC_NO_MODIFY_PATH=1` | Skip shell profile changes; on Windows, skip both current-session and user `PATH` changes |
Cross-compilation sysroots (Windows SDK, Linux sysroot, etc.) are installed on demand after the compiler is on your `PATH`:
```bash
neverc runtime install all
neverc runtime install windows-x64
neverc runtime list
```
Update a release installation with the compiler and its already-installed
cross-compilation runtimes as one versioned unit:
```bash
neverc update # newest complete release
neverc update v3389.1.2 # exact release, including a downgrade
```
`neverc upgrade` is an alias. NeverC resolves one concrete release tag and
reinstalls only the runtimes that were already present, pinning every one to
the compiler's target tag. All required archives are downloaded, SHA256
verified, extracted, and validated before live files change; a staging or
checksum failure leaves the current installation untouched, and commit
failures are rolled back. If a runtime release is bad, run `neverc update`
with an earlier tag to roll the compiler and installed runtimes back together.
Full command reference: [`neverc runtime` →](docs/runtime.md) · [`neverc update` →](docs/update.md) · [`neverc build` / `make` →](docs/build.md).
## Building from Source
See **[Local Development](docs/local-dev.md)** for build requirements, build commands, cross-compiling to Windows, PATH setup, and switching between a release install and an in-tree build.
## Contributing
NeverC is **C-only by design** (C23). C++, Objective-C, CUDA, and similar language
frontends are out of scope; pull requests that add them will be closed.
For large language, ABI, or runtime changes, open an issue first and discuss scope
before sending a pull request.
The default development branch is **`dev`**. Clone and check it out before
you start work; open pull requests against `dev`.
```bash
git clone https://github.com/NeverSight/NeverC.git
cd NeverC
git checkout dev
```
## License
[AGPL-3.0](LICENSE)
LLVM components retain their [Apache-2.0 WITH LLVM-exception](llvm/LICENSE.TXT) license.
When copying or adapting code, including AI/LLM-assisted and LLVM-related reuse,
comply with the applicable license and retain the required copyright, license,
and attribution notices. Separately, we ask that anyone using NeverC as a
reference cite the project and original source; this is a project citation
request, not an additional license condition.
See [notices](NOTICE), the [attribution guide](docs/attribution.md),
and the [machine-readable citation](CITATION.cff).
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