nim

Compile a source file

$ nim [[c|compile]] [path/to/file.nim]

$ nim [[c|compile]] [[-r|--run]] [path/to/file.nim]

$ nim [[c|compile]] [[-d|--define]]:release [path/to/file.nim]

$ nim [[c|compile]] [[-d|--define]]:release --opt:size [path/to/file.nim]

$ nim doc [path/to/file.nim]

$ nim check [path/to/file.nim]

nim [global-options] command [command-options] [arguments]
The command typically involves specifying a subcommand like c (compile), r (run), doc, or install, followed by options specific to that subcommand and relevant arguments (e.g., source file names).

--version
    Displays the Nim compiler's version information.

--help
    Shows general help or help for a specific subcommand.

--verbose
    Enables verbose output during compilation and execution processes.

-d:
    Defines a symbol or flag that can influence conditional compilation.

--fullbuild
    Forces a complete rebuild of the project, ignoring incremental compilation caches.

--debug
    Compiles the code in debug mode, typically including debug symbols.

--release
    Compiles the code in release mode, enabling optimizations for performance.

--os:
    Specifies the target operating system for compilation (e.g., linux, windows, macos).

--cpu:
    Specifies the target CPU architecture for compilation (e.g., amd64, arm64).

The nim command is the primary tool for interacting with the Nim programming language. It serves as a comprehensive compiler, interpreter, and project management utility. Developed as a high-performance, statically-typed language that compiles to C, C++, or JavaScript, Nim aims to combine the efficiency of C with the expressiveness of Python.

The nim command facilitates various operations including compiling source code into executables, running Nim scripts, generating documentation, and managing project dependencies. It's an essential part of the Nim development workflow, offering a unified interface for building, testing, and deploying Nim applications across different platforms. While not a standard utility found in typical Linux distributions by default, it becomes available upon installation of the Nim programming language toolchain. Its versatility allows developers to handle everything from small scripts to large-scale systems programming projects.

The nim command is not a standard utility in most Linux distributions and requires the Nim programming language toolchain to be installed. Its behavior and available options can vary significantly depending on the subcommand used. Users should consult the official Nim documentation for comprehensive details on all subcommands and their specific parameters.

The nim command operates primarily through a system of subcommands, each performing a distinct task. Common subcommands include c (compile a Nim source file), r (compile and run a Nim source file), doc (generate HTML documentation), install (install a Nim package), check (perform a static analysis check), and build (build a project). Each subcommand often has its own set of specific options.

The nim command integrates with Nim's built-in package manager, Nimble. Commands like nimble install, nimble publish, and nimble update (though often invoked directly via nimble, nim can dispatch to it) are crucial for managing external libraries and dependencies within Nim projects, mirroring similar functionalities in other modern language toolchains.

The Nim programming language, and by extension its nim command, originated from a project known as Nimrod, started by Andreas Rumpf in 2008. The language was officially renamed to Nim in 2014. Its development has focused on creating a language that combines performance, expressiveness, and a pragmatic approach to systems programming. The nim command has evolved alongside the language, becoming the central unified interface for all major development tasks, from basic compilation to advanced package management and cross-platform compilation.

gcc(1): GNU Compiler Collection, a widely used compiler for C/C++/Fortran., clang(1): A C, C++, Objective-C and Objective-C++ front-end for the LLVM compiler., python(1): An interpreted, object-oriented, high-level programming language with dynamic semantics., rustc(1): The Rust programming language compiler., go(1): The Go programming language toolchain.