Faber (Reference)

The reference compiler for the Faber Romanus programming language, implemented in TypeScript. Faber ("craftsman" in Latin) is the primary compiler used for all daily development, supporting multi-target code generation to TypeScript, Python, Rust, Zig, and C++.

This compiler uses mixed Latin/English identifiers in its implementation, prioritizing clarity for contributors familiar with TypeScript conventions while maintaining the project's Latin aesthetic in user-facing APIs.

Usage

faber compile <file.fab>              # Compile to TypeScript (default)
faber compile <file.fab> -t py        # Compile to Python
faber compile <file.fab> -t zig       # Compile to Zig
faber compile <file.fab> -t rs        # Compile to Rust
faber compile <file.fab> -t cpp       # Compile to C++23
faber compile <file.fab> -t fab       # Format/normalize Faber source
faber compile <file.fab> -o out.ts    # Specify output file
faber run <file.fab>                  # Compile and execute (TypeScript only)
faber check <file.fab>                # Validate syntax without output
faber format <file.fab>               # Format source in place

Implementation Status

Target	Tests	Status
TypeScript	760	100%
Python	613	81%
Rust	580	76%
C++23	475	63%
Zig	470	62%

Status % = passing tests / TypeScript baseline. Run bun test proba/runner.test.ts -t "@<target>" to verify (e.g., -t "@zig").

Status: ● implemented, ◐ partial, ○ not implemented, — not applicable, ◌ convention

Type System

Feature	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
`textus` (string)	●	●	●	●	●
`numerus` (integer)	●	●	●	●	●
`fractus` (float)	●	●	●	●	●
`decimus` (decimal)	●	◐	●	○	◐
`magnus` (bigint)	●	◐	●	●	○
`bivalens` (boolean)	●	●	●	●	●
`nihil` (null)	●	●	●	●	●
`vacuum` (void)	●	●	●	●	●
`numquam` (never)	●	●	●	●	○
`octeti` (bytes)	●	●	●	●	●
`objectum` (object)	●	◐	●	○	◐
`lista<T>` (array)	●	◐	●	●	●
`tabula<K,V>` (map)	●	◐	●	●	●
`copia<T>` (set)	●	◐	●	●	●
`series<T...>` (tuple)	○	○	○	○	○
`promissum<T>` (promise)	●	○	●	●	○
`erratum` (error)	●	○	●	○	○
`cursor<T>` (iterator)	●	○	●	○	○
`ignotum` (unknown)	●	●	●	○	○
`curator` (allocator)	—	●	—	—	—
Nullable types (`T?`)	●	●	●	●	○
Union types (`unio<A,B>`)	●	◐	●	○	○
Generic type params	●	○	●	●	○
Type aliases (`typus`)	●	●	●	●	○
typeof (`typus` RHS)	●	◐	○	○	○

Variable Declarations

Feature	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
`varia` (mutable)	●	●	●	●	●
`fixum` (immutable)	●	●	●	●	●
`figendum` (async immutable)	●	○	●	●	○
`variandum` (async mutable)	●	○	●	●	○
`nexum` (reactive field)	●	○	●	○	○
Type annotations	●	●	●	●	●
Object destructuring	●	●	●	●	●
Array destructuring	●	●	●	●	●
Rest in destructuring	●	●	●	●	●
Skip pattern (`_`)	●	●	●	●	●
Negative indices `[-1]`	●	●	●	●	●
Slicing `[1..3]`	●	●	●	●	●
Inclusive slicing (`usque`)	●	●	●	●	●
Initializer expressions	●	●	●	●	●

Enum & Tagged Union Declarations

Feature	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
`ordo` (enum)	●	●	●	●	●
Enum variants	●	●	●	●	●
Enum with values	●	●	●	●	◐
`discretio` (tagged union)	●	●	●	●	●
Variant fields	●	●	●	●	●
Generic discretio	●	●	●	●	●
`discerne` (variant match)	●	●	●	●	◐

Function Declarations

Feature	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
Basic functions (`functio`)	●	●	●	●	●
Parameters	●	●	●	●	●
Parameter type annotations	●	●	●	●	●
Parameter aliasing (`ut`)	●	●	●	●	●
Parameter defaults (`vel`)	●	○	●	○	●
Parameter prepositions (`de`/`in`)	●	●	●	●	●
Rest parameters (`ceteri`)	●	○	●	○	○
Return type annotation (`->`)	●	●	●	●	●
`futura` (async prefix)	●	◐	●	●	○
`cursor` (generator prefix)	●	—	●	—	—
Async generator	●	—	●	—	—
Arrow functions	●	◐	●	●	●
`fit T` (sync return)	●	●	●	●	○
`fiet T` (async return)	●	○	●	●	○
`fiunt T` (generator return)	●	○	●	—	—
`fient T` (async generator return)	●	○	●	—	—
`prae` (comptime type param)	●	●	●	●	○
`@ externa` (external decl)	●	○	○	○	○

Control Flow Statements

Feature	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
`si` (if)	●	●	●	●	●
`secus` (else)	●	●	●	●	●
`sin` (else if)	●	●	●	●	●
`dum` (while)	●	●	●	●	●
`ex...pro` (for-of)	●	●	●	●	●
`ex...fit` (for-of verb form)	●	●	●	●	○
`ex...fiet` (async for)	●	○	●	○	○
`ex...pro (i, n)` (indexed)	○	○	○	○	○
`de...pro` (for-in)	●	●	●	●	○
Range `..` (exclusive)	●	●	●	●	●
Range `ante` (exclusive)	●	●	●	●	●
Range `usque` (inclusive)	●	●	●	●	●
Range with step (`per`)	●	●	●	●	○
`in` (mutation block)	●	●	●	●	○
`elige` (switch)	●	●	●	●	●
Switch cases (`si`)	●	●	●	●	●
Switch default (`secus`)	●	●	●	●	●
`discerne` (pattern match)	●	●	●	●	◐
`discerne` multi-discriminant	●	○	○	○	○
`secus` (else/ternary alt)	●	○	●	●	○
`fac` (do/block)	●	●	●	●	●
`ergo` (then, one-liner)	●	○	●	○	○
`rumpe` (break)	●	●	●	●	●
`perge` (continue)	●	●	●	●	●
`custodi` (guard)	●	●	●	●	●
`cura` (resource management)	●	●	○	●	○
`praefixum` (comptime block)	●	●	●	●	○
Catch on control flow	●	○	●	○	○

Return/Exit Statements

Feature	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
`redde` (return)	●	●	●	●	●
`redde` with value	●	●	●	●	●
`redde` void	●	●	●	●	●

Exception Handling

Feature	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
`tempta` (try)	●	—	●	◐	●
`cape` (catch)	●	◐	●	◐	●
`demum` (finally)	●	—	●	—	●
`fac...cape` (block)	●	●	●	●	●
`iace` (throw)	●	●	●	●	●
`adfirma` (assert)	●	●	●	●	●
Assert with message	●	●	●	●	●
`mori` (panic/fatal)	●	●	●	●	●

Output/Debug/Events

Feature	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
`scribe` statement	●	●	●	●	●
`vide` (debug)	●	●	●	○	●
`mone` (warn)	●	●	●	○	●
Multiple args	●	●	●	●	●

Expressions

Feature	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
Identifiers	●	●	●	●	●
`ego` (this/self)	●	●	●	●	●
Boolean literals (`verum`/`falsum`)	●	●	●	●	●
`nihil` literal	●	●	●	●	●
String literals	●	●	●	●	●
Number literals	●	●	●	●	●
Hex literals (`0xFF`)	●	●	●	●	○
Binary literals (`0b1010`)	●	●	●	●	○
Octal literals (`0o755`)	●	●	●	●	○
BigInt literals (`123n`)	●	●	●	●	○
Template literals	●	◐	●	●	○
`scriptum()` format strings	●	●	●	●	●
Regex literals (`sed`)	●	○	●	●	○
Array literals	●	●	●	●	●
Array spread (`sparge`)	●	○	●	○	○
Object literals	●	●	●	●	●
Object spread (`sparge`)	●	○	●	○	○
Binary operators	●	●	●	●	●
Comparison operators	●	●	●	●	●
Logical operators	●	●	●	●	●
Bitwise operators	●	●	●	●	●
Unary operators	●	●	●	●	●
`nulla` (is empty)	●	●	●	●	○
`nonnulla` (has content)	●	●	●	●	○
`nihil x` (is null)	●	●	●	●	○
`nonnihil x` (is not null)	●	●	●	●	○
`negativum` (is negative)	●	●	●	●	○
`positivum` (is positive)	●	●	●	●	○
`verum x` (is true)	○	●	●	●	○
`falsum x` (is false)	○	●	●	●	○
Member access (`.`)	●	●	●	●	●
Optional chaining (`?.`)	●	●	●	●	●
Non-null assertion (`!.`)	●	●	●	●	●
Computed access (`[]`)	●	●	●	●	●
Function calls	●	●	●	●	●
Call spread (`sparge`)	●	○	●	○	○
Method calls	●	●	●	●	●
Assignment	●	●	●	●	●
Compound assignment (`+=`, etc.)	●	●	●	●	●
Conditional (ternary)	●	●	●	●	●
`sic`/`secus` ternary syntax	●	○	●	●	○
`cede` (await/yield)	●	◐	●	●	○
`novum` (new)	●	●	●	●	●
`novum...de` (new with props)	●	●	●	●	●
`===` / `est` (strict equality)	●	●	●	●	●
`!==` / `non est` (strict ineq.)	●	●	●	●	●
`est` (instanceof/typeof)	●	●	●	●	○
`qua` (type cast)	●	●	●	●	○
`innatum` (native construction)	●	●	●	●	●
`aut` (logical or)	●	●	●	●	●
`vel` (nullish coalescing)	●	●	●	●	●
`praefixum` (comptime expr)	●	●	●	●	○

Lambda Syntax

Feature	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
`pro x: expr` (expression)	●	◐	◐	●	○
`pro x { body }` (block)	●	◐	◐	●	○
`pro: expr` (zero-param)	●	◐	◐	●	○
`pro x -> T: expr` (ret. type)	●	●	—	●	●
`fit x: expr` (sync binding)	●	◐	◐	●	○
`per property` (shorthand)	○	○	○	○	○

OOP Features (genus/pactum)

Feature	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
`genus` declaration	●	●	●	●	●
Field declarations	●	●	●	●	●
Field defaults	●	●	●	●	●
`nexum` (reactive field)	●	○	●	○	○
Static fields (`generis`)	●	○	◐	○	○
`@ privatum` (private)	●	○	●	●	○
`@ protectum` (protected)	●	○	●	○	○
`creo` (constructor hook)	●	●	●	●	●
`deleo` (destructor)	◌	◌	◌	◌	◌
`pingo` (render method)	◌	◌	◌	◌	◌
Auto-merge constructor	●	●	●	●	●
Methods	●	●	●	●	●
Async methods	●	◐	●	●	○
Generator methods	●	—	●	—	—
`sub` (extends)	●	○	●	○	○
`implet` (implements)	●	●	●	●	○
Multiple `implet`	●	○	●	●	○
`@ abstractum` class	●	○	●	○	○
`@ abstracta` method	●	○	●	○	○
`aperit` (index sig)	○	—	—	—	—
Generic classes	●	○	●	●	○
`pactum` declaration	●	●	●	●	●
Interface methods	●	●	●	●	●

Import/Export

Feature	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
`ex...importa` (named imports)	●	●	●	●	○
`ex...importa *` (wildcard)	●	●	●	●	○
`ut` alias (import renaming)	●	●	●	●	○

Testing

Feature	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
`proba` (test case)	●	○	○	●	○
`probandum` (test suite)	●	○	○	●	○
`cura ante` (beforeEach)	●	○	○	●	○
`cura post` (afterEach)	●	○	○	●	○
`cura ante omnia` (beforeAll)	●	○	○	○	○
`cura post omnia` (afterAll)	●	○	○	○	○
`omitte` modifier (skip)	●	○	○	●	○
`solum` modifier (only)	○	○	○	○	○
`futurum` modifier (todo)	●	○	○	●	○
Table-driven tests (`proba ex`)	○	○	○	○	○

Preamble / Prologue

Feature	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
Preamble infrastructure	●	◐	●	◐	●
Panic class/import	●	—	○	—	—
Decimal import	●	—	●	—	—
Enum import	—	—	●	—	—
Regex import	—	—	●	●	—
Collection imports	—	○	○	○	—
Async imports	—	○	○	○	—
Arena allocator	—	●	—	○	—
Curator tracking	—	●	—	○	—
Flumina/Responsum	●	○	○	○	○

I/O Intrinsics

Feature	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
`_scribe` (print)	●	●	●	●	●
`_vide` (debug)	●	●	●	●	●
`_mone` (warn)	●	●	●	●	●
`_lege` (read input)	●	●	●	●	●

Stdlib: Math (mathesis)

Feature	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
`pavimentum(x)` (floor)	●	●	●	●	●
`tectum(x)` (ceiling)	●	●	●	●	●
`radix(x)` (sqrt)	●	●	●	●	●
`potentia(x, n)` (pow)	●	●	●	●	●
`absolutum(x)` (abs)	●	●	●	●	●
`signum(x)` (sign)	●	●	●	●	●
`rotundum(x)` (round)	●	●	●	●	●
`truncatum(x)` (trunc)	●	●	●	●	●
`logarithmus(x)` (log)	●	●	●	●	●
`logarithmus10(x)` (log10)	●	●	●	●	●
`exponens(x)` (exp)	●	●	●	●	●
`sinus(x)` (sin)	●	●	●	●	●
`cosinus(x)` (cos)	●	●	●	●	●
`tangens(x)` (tan)	●	●	●	●	●
`minimus(a, b)` (min)	●	●	●	●	●
`maximus(a, b)` (max)	●	●	●	●	●
`constringens(x, lo, hi)`	●	●	●	●	●
`PI` (constant)	●	●	●	●	●
`E` (constant)	●	●	●	●	●
`TAU` (constant)	●	●	●	●	●

Stdlib: Random (aleator)

Feature	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
`fractus()` (random 0-1)	●	●	●	●	●
`inter(min, max)` (int)	●	●	●	●	●
`octeti(n)` (random bytes)	●	●	●	●	●
`uuid()` (UUID v4)	●	●	●	●	●
`selige(lista)` (random pick)	●	●	●	●	●
`misce(lista)` (shuffle copy)	●	●	●	●	●
`semen(n)` (seed)	●	●	●	●	●

Lista (Array) Methods

Latin	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
`adde` (push)	●	●	●	●	●
`addita` (push copy)	●	—	●	●	●
`praepone` (unshift)	●	●	●	●	●
`praeposita` (unshift copy)	●	—	●	●	●
`remove` (pop)	●	●	●	●	●
`remota` (pop copy)	●	—	●	●	●
`decapita` (shift)	●	●	●	●	●
`decapitata` (shift copy)	●	—	●	●	●
`purga` (clear)	●	●	●	●	●
`primus` (first)	●	●	●	●	●
`ultimus` (last)	●	●	●	●	●
`accipe` (at index)	●	●	●	●	●
`longitudo` (length)	●	●	●	●	●
`vacua` (is empty)	●	●	●	●	●
`continet` (includes)	●	●	●	●	●
`indiceDe` (indexOf)	●	●	●	●	●
`inveni` (find)	●	●	●	●	●
`inveniIndicem` (findIndex)	●	●	●	●	●
`filtrata` (filter)	●	●	●	●	●
`mappata` (map)	●	●	●	●	●
`reducta` (reduce)	●	●	●	●	●
`explanata` (flatMap)	●	—	●	●	●
`plana` (flat)	●	—	●	●	●
`inversa` (reverse copy)	●	●	●	●	●
`ordinata` (sort copy)	●	●	●	●	●
`sectio` (slice)	●	●	●	●	●
`prima` (take first n)	●	●	●	●	●
`ultima` (take last n)	●	●	●	●	●
`omitte` (skip first n)	●	●	●	●	●
`omnes` (every)	●	●	●	●	●
`aliquis` (some)	●	●	●	●	●
`coniunge` (join)	●	—	●	●	●
`perambula` (forEach)	●	●	●	●	●
`filtra` (filter in-place)	●	—	●	○	●
`ordina` (sort in-place)	●	●	●	●	●
`inverte` (reverse in-place)	●	●	●	●	●
`congrega` (groupBy)	●	—	●	○	●
`unica` (unique)	●	—	●	●	●
`planaOmnia` (flattenDeep)	●	—	○	○	◐
`fragmenta` (chunk)	●	—	●	●	●
`densa` (compact)	●	—	●	○	●
`partire` (partition)	●	—	●	●	●
`misce` (shuffle)	●	—	●	○	●
`specimen` (sample one)	●	—	●	○	●
`specimina` (sample n)	●	—	●	○	●
`summa` (sum)	●	●	●	●	●
`medium` (average)	●	●	●	●	●
`minimus` (min)	●	●	●	●	●
`maximus` (max)	●	●	●	●	●
`minimusPer` (minBy)	●	—	○	●	●
`maximusPer` (maxBy)	●	—	○	●	●
`numera` (count)	●	●	●	●	●

Tabula (Map) Methods

Latin	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
`pone` (set)	●	●	●	●	●
`accipe` (get)	●	●	●	●	●
`habet` (has)	●	●	●	●	●
`dele` (delete)	●	●	●	●	●
`longitudo` (size)	●	●	●	●	●
`vacua` (isEmpty)	●	●	●	●	●
`purga` (clear)	●	●	●	●	●
`claves` (keys)	●	●	●	●	●
`valores` (values)	●	●	●	●	●
`paria` (entries)	●	●	●	●	●
`accipeAut` (getOrDefault)	●	●	●	●	●
`selige` (pick)	●	—	●	○	●
`omitte` (omit)	●	—	●	○	●
`confla` (merge)	●	—	●	●	●
`inversa` (invert)	●	—	●	○	●
`mappaValores` (mapValues)	●	—	●	○	●
`mappaClaves` (mapKeys)	●	—	●	○	●
`inLista` (toArray)	●	—	●	●	●
`inObjectum` (toObject)	●	—	●	—	—

Copia (Set) Methods

Latin	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
`adde` (add)	●	●	●	●	●
`habet` (has)	●	●	●	●	●
`dele` (delete)	●	●	●	●	●
`longitudo` (size)	●	●	●	●	●
`vacua` (isEmpty)	●	●	●	●	●
`purga` (clear)	●	●	●	●	●
`unio` (union)	●	—	●	●	●
`intersectio` (intersection)	●	—	●	●	●
`differentia` (difference)	●	—	●	●	●
`symmetrica` (symmetric diff)	●	—	●	●	●
`subcopia` (isSubset)	●	—	●	●	●
`supercopia` (isSuperset)	●	—	●	●	●
`inLista` (toArray)	●	—	●	●	●
`valores` (values)	●	●	●	○	●
`perambula` (forEach)	●	—	●	●	●

Stdlib: Time (tempus)

Feature	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
`nunc()` (current epoch)	●	●	●	●	●
`nunc_nano()` (nanos)	●	●	●	●	●
`nunc_secunda()` (secs)	●	●	●	●	●
`dormi ms` (sleep)	●	●	●	●	●
Duration constants	●	●	●	●	●

Stdlib: File I/O (solum)

Feature	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
`lege` (read file)	○	○	○	○	○
`inscribe` (write file)	○	○	○	○	○
`appone` (append)	○	○	○	○	○
`aperi` / `claude` (open)	○	○	○	○	○
`exstat` (exists)	○	○	○	○	○
`dele` (delete)	○	○	○	○	○
`duplica` (copy)	○	○	○	○	○
`move` (rename)	○	○	○	○	○
`crea` (mkdir)	○	○	○	○	○
`elenca` (readdir)	○	○	○	○	○
`via.*` (path utils)	○	○	○	○	○

Stdlib: Network (caelum)

Feature	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
`pete` (HTTP GET)	○	○	○	○	○
`mitte` (HTTP POST)	○	○	○	○	○
`pone` (HTTP PUT)	○	○	○	○	○
`dele` (HTTP DELETE)	○	○	○	○	○
WebSocket client	○	○	○	○	○
TCP/UDP sockets	○	○	○	○	○

Stdlib: Crypto

Feature	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
`digere` (hash)	○	○	○	○	○
`hmac` (HMAC)	○	○	○	○	○
`cifra` (encrypt)	○	○	○	○	○
`decifra` (decrypt)	○	○	○	○	○
`fortuita` (random bytes)	○	○	○	○	○
`deriva` (key derivation)	○	○	○	○	○

Stdlib: Encoding (codex)

Feature	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
`coda` (encode)	○	○	○	○	○
`decoda` (decode)	○	○	○	○	○
Base64/Base64URL	○	○	○	○	○
Hex encoding	○	○	○	○	○
URL percent-encoding	○	○	○	○	○

Stdlib: Compression (comprimo)

Feature	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
`comprimo` (compress)	○	○	○	○	○
`laxo` (decompress)	○	○	○	○	○
gzip/zstd/brotli	○	○	○	○	○

Stdlib: Database (arca)

Feature	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
Query DSL (`de...quaere`)	○	○	○	○	○
Mutations (`in...muta`)	○	○	○	○	○
Transactions	○	○	○	○	○
SQLite embedded	—	○	—	—	—

Collection DSL

Feature	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
`ex...prima n` (take)	●	○	●	○	○
`ex...ultima n` (last)	●	○	●	○	○
`ex...summa` (sum)	●	○	●	○	○
`ab...ubi` (filter where)	◐	○	◐	○	○
`ab...pro` (filter iter)	○	○	○	○	○

External Dispatch (ad)

Feature	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
`ad "target" (args)`	○	○	○	○	○
Syscall dispatch	○	○	○	○	○
URL protocol routing	○	○	○	○	○
Package dispatch	○	○	○	○	○

Nucleus Runtime

The Nucleus is Faber's micro-kernel runtime providing unified I/O dispatch, message-passing protocol, and async execution across all targets. See consilia/futura/nucleus.md for full design.

Feature	TypeScript	Zig	Python	Rust	C++23
Responsum protocol	●	○	○	○	○
Handle abstraction	○	○	○	○	○
Dispatcher (syscall table)	○	○	○	○	○
Request correlation	○	○	○	○	○
AsyncContext executor	○	○	○	○	○
State machine codegen	—	○	—	○	○

The Responsum protocol defines a tagged union for all syscall results.

Target Notes

Python (3.10+)

No block braces (indentation-based), no new keyword, asyncio for async, typing.Protocol for interfaces, match/case for pattern matching.

Zig (0.11+)

No classes (structs with methods), no interfaces (duck typing), no exceptions (error unions), no generators, comptime generics. genus becomes const Name = struct { ... };. Memory management via curator type which maps to std.mem.Allocator — collection methods automatically use the allocator from function parameters or the default arena in main().

Rust (2021 edition)

Ownership system, borrowing (&/&mut), Option<T>/Result<T,E> instead of null/exceptions, traits instead of interfaces, exhaustive pattern matching.

C++23

std::expected<T,E> for errors, std::print for output, concepts for interfaces, coroutines for async, RAII for cleanup.