←back to thread

Show HN: Run – a CLI universal code runner I built while learning Rust

(github.com)
96 points esubaalew | 1 comments | 04 Oct 25 18:34 UTC | HN request time: 0.209s | source

Hi HN — I’m learning Rust and decided to build a universal CLI for running code in many languages. The tool, Run, aims to be a single, minimal dependency utility for: running one-off snippets (from CLI flags), running files, reading and executing piped stdin, and providing language-specific REPLs that you can switch between interactively.

I designed it to support both interpreted languages (Python, JS, Ruby, etc.) and compiled languages (Rust, Go, C/C++). It detects languages from flags or file extensions, can compile temporary files for compiled languages, and exposes a unified REPL experience with commands like :help, :lang, and :quit.

Install: cargo install run-kit (or use the platform downloads on GitHub). Source & releases: https://github.com/Esubaalew/run

I used Rust while following the official learning resources and used AI to speed up development, so I expect there are bugs and rough edges. I’d love feedback on: usability and UX of the REPL, edge cases for piping input to language runtimes, security considerations (sandboxing/resource limits), packaging and cross-platform distribution.

Thanks — I’ll try to answer questions and share design notes.

Show context
brandonasuncion ◴[04 Oct 25 19:42 UTC] No.45476081[source]▶
As a small note, Swift is a compiled language. It uses LLVM as a backend, same as Rust and Clang (C/C++/ObjC). It's currently listed under "Web & typed scripting".
replies(2): >>45476224 #>>45477791 #
jayrhynas ◴[04 Oct 25 19:59 UTC] No.45476224[source]▶
It's definitely a blurry line, this `run` tool invokes your Swift file with `swift file.swift` which runs it in immediate mode. Technically it is compiling your code to memory and and immediately executing it, but is it that different from JIT in Python or Node scripting?
replies(1): >>45476546 #
brandonasuncion ◴[04 Oct 25 20:44 UTC] No.45476546[source]▶
If you look at it that way, I agree. But then the same thing is done for executing Go, which is listed with the other compiled languages.
replies(2): >>45476931 #>>45477016 #
likeclockwork ◴[04 Oct 25 21:47 UTC] No.45477016[source]▶
"compiled" isn't a property of a language. I think the distinction that both you and the author of the tool are making is always going to be messy. It seems to me that you're talking about the language itself via an imprecise description of a particular implementation.
replies(1): >>45477801 #
1. esubaalew ◴[04 Oct 25 23:57 UTC] No.45477801[source]▶
You're right—Kotlin can be used as Kotlin/JS for web development, and as a compiled language when we're talking about Android development. Context matters