Kio Programming Language
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About
Kio is a statically typed, hosted, minimalistic language designed to be highly portable, with version 0.1 supporting eight host languages. It is based on polymorphic lambda calculus with higher-kinded types, offers type-driven macros, and can statically check asserted equivalences with a normalizer. It has no built-in effectful functions, strings or numeric types; programs declare the capabilities they need and the host supplies them.
At a glance
Kio is a statically typed language for writing components that can be compiled into multiple host languages. It is worth evaluating when you need the same small piece of logic in different applications and can define what each host provides.
Good fit
Developers prototyping reusable logic across languages such as JavaScript and Rust.
Consider something else when
Use the host language directly if you only have one target or need a standalone application runtime.
Start here
Write one pure transformation with a typed host interface. Generate it for two targets and check that the same inputs produce the same outputs.
Cost and requirements
The compiler needs a package definition and a supported target. Each host supplies the capabilities declared by the package and its own build environment.
Limits to know
Cross-language reuse still depends on host implementations honoring the same contract. Check generated code and behavior on your exact targets.
Sources checked 2026-11-05. Source-based assessment.
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