Exploring the Leo programming language: a comprehensive guide
Hey there, I’m Heorhii, and I’m thrilled to take you on a journey through the fascinating realm of the Leo programming language. Let’s dive into this guide together, unlocking the potential of a functional, statically-typed language tailored for crafting private applications.
Overview
Leo isn’t just a programming language; it’s a bridge to a new era of privacy-centric applications. Imagine a language that abstracts low-level cryptographic intricacies, allowing seamless integration of privacy into your applications. Leo achieves this by compiling to circuits, making zero-knowledge proofs not just theoretical but practical.
Influenced by languages like JavaScript, Scala, and Rust, Leo prioritizes readability and ease-of-use. Developers can leverage tools for circuit sanity checks, including unit tests, integration tests, and console functions.
Note: Leo is currently in its alpha stage, so expect exciting developments and potential breaking changes.
Advantages of Leo:
- Privacy by default: Leo prioritizes privacy, ensuring your applications are inherently secure.
- Developer-friendly syntax: influenced by popular languages, Leo’s syntax promotes readability and ease of coding.
- Zk proofs: Leo compiles to circuits, making zero-knowledge proofs a practical reality.
- Robust testing tools: enjoy unit tests, integration tests, and console functions for circuit sanity checks.
Let’s consider the build guide:
1. Install Rust. To embark on your Leo journey, first, ensure Rust is set up.
Use rustup for a hassle-free installation:
# macOS or Linux
curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh
- Windows (64-bit):
- Download the Windows 64-bit executable and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Windows (32-bit):
- Download the Windows 32-bit executable and follow the on-screen instructions.
For a more hands-on approach, build Leo from the source code:
# Download the source code
git clone https://github.com/AleoHQ/leo
cd leo
# Install 'leo'
$ cargo install --path .
Now, unleash Leo’s power in your terminal with a simple command:
leo
2. Quick start. Let’s create a new Leo project and witness its magic:
# Create a new project named 'hello-world'
leo new hello-world
cd hello-world
# Build, set up, prove, and verify
leo run
Voila! You’ve just executed your maiden Leo program. The possibilities are endless.
More info you can find here:
The Leo Command Line Interface
The Leo CLI, bundled with the Leo compiler, empowers you to interact seamlessly. Here’s a glimpse:
- Installation. Install Leo globally:
cargo install --path .
2. Global flags:
-d, --debug
: Enables debugging mode-h, --help
: Prints help information-V, --version
: Prints version information
3. List of commands:
Run leo --help
to see the full list of commands. Here are a few:
example
: Create a new Leo package from an example program.new
: Create a new Leo package in a new directory.build
: Compile the current package as a program.run
: Run a program with input variables.execute
: Execute a program with input variables.clean
: Clean the output directory.update
: Update to the latest version of Leo.account
: Create a new Aleo account.
4. leo example. Explore examples with:
leo example
Choose from programs like a public lottery, Tic-Tac-Toe, custom tokens, and more.
You can find the examples also in the list on Aleo Playground https://play.leo-lang.org/
5. leo new. Create a new Leo package:
leo new my-package
Follow snake_case naming conventions.
6. leo build (deprecated). Compile your program:
leo build
Generate Aleo instructions for verification.
7. leo run. Run your program:
leo run my-transition
Simulate your transition function with inputs. Use this command to run your program before executing it.
8. leo execute. Execute your program:
leo execute my-transition
Generate a transaction object.
9. leo clean. Clean the build directory:
leo clean
10. leo update. Update Leo:
leo update
11. leo account. Manage Aleo accounts:
leo account new
# Output:
Private Key APrivateKey1zkp...
View Key AViewKey1...
Address aleo1...
Generate a new Aleo account with a private key, view key, and address.
To import an existing Aleo account, run:
leo account import {$PRIVATE_KEY}
To create a new account and save it to your .env file, run:
leo account new --write
To list all options
leo account --help
# Output:
Create a new Aleo account
Usage: leo account [OPTIONS] <COMMAND>
Commands:
new Generates a new Aleo account
import Derive an Aleo account from a private key
help Print this message or the help of the given subcommand(s)
Options:
-d Print additional information for debugging
-q Suppress CLI output
--path <PATH> Optional path to Leo program root folder
-h, --help Print help
More info you can find here:
Ready to explore the programming language designed for a private future? Let’s uncover the wonders of Leo together!
Leo documentation:
Prepared by Colliseum