Getting Started
Install multilingual and write your first program in any of 17 human languages.
What is multilingual?
multilingual is a programming language framework that lets you write programs using keywords from 17 different human languages. All language frontends compile to the same formal Core AST, then to Python or WebAssembly.
You write in your preferred language. The compiler produces identical behavior regardless of which language you used.
Key principles:
- One semantic core — All 17 languages map to the same Core AST
- Forward-only compilation —
Surface Language → Core AST → Python/WASM - Concept-driven keywords —
COND_IFmaps toif/si/wenn/もしetc. - Data-driven extensibility — Languages added via JSON, not grammar rewrites
- Python-compatible runtime — Python 3.12+ syntax subset, WASM acceleration
Prerequisites
- Python 3.12+ (required)
- pip (comes with Python)
- Optional: wasmtime (for WASM backend, 50–100x speedup)
Installation
Minimal (Python backend)
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pip install multilingualprogramming
Includes full 17-language support with Python execution. No WASM acceleration.
Recommended (Python + WASM)
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pip install multilingualprogramming[wasm]
Adds optional WebAssembly acceleration with automatic Python fallback.
Maximum Performance
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pip install multilingualprogramming[performance]
Adds NumPy for optimized numeric fallbacks alongside WASM.
Verify Installation
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python -c "import multilingualprogramming; print('OK')"
Check WASM availability:
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from multilingualprogramming.runtime.backend_selector import BackendSelector
selector = BackendSelector()
print(f"WASM available: {selector.is_wasm_available()}")
Your First Program
English
Create a file hello_en.ml:
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let message = "Hello, multilingual world!"
let count = 3
for i in range(count):
print(f"[{i}] {message}")
Run it:
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python -m multilingualprogramming run hello_en.ml --lang en
French
Create hello_fr.ml:
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soit message = "Bonjour, monde multilingue!"
soit compteur = 3
pour i dans intervalle(compteur):
afficher(f"[{i}] {message}")
Run:
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python -m multilingualprogramming run hello_fr.ml --lang fr
Japanese
Create hello_ja.ml:
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変数 メッセージ = "こんにちは、多言語の世界！"
変数 カウント = 3
毎 i 中 範囲(カウント):
表示(f"[{i}] {メッセージ}")
Run:
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python -m multilingualprogramming run hello_ja.ml --lang ja
Arabic
Create hello_ar.ml:
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ليكن رسالة = "مرحبا بالعالم متعدد اللغات!"
ليكن عداد = 3
لكل i في مدى(عداد):
اطبع(f"[{i}] {رسالة}")
Run:
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python -m multilingualprogramming run hello_ar.ml --lang ar
Start the Interactive REPL
The REPL lets you type programs interactively with language switching:
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# Default language (English)
python -m multilingualprogramming repl
# Start in French
python -m multilingualprogramming repl --lang fr
# Show generated Python alongside output
python -m multilingualprogramming repl --show-python
REPL Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
:help |
Show all REPL commands |
:language <code> |
Switch language (e.g., :language fr) |
:python |
Toggle Python preview mode |
:reset |
Reset interpreter state |
:kw [XX] |
List keywords for current or specified language |
:ops [XX] |
List operators |
:q |
Quit |
Example REPL session:
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> let x = 10
> let y = 20
> print(x + y)
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> :language fr
Switched to: French (fr)
> soit z = x + y
> afficher(z)
30
> :q
CLI Reference
The CLI is available as both multilingual and multilg:
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# Run a program file
multilingual run <file.ml> --lang <code>
# Start REPL
multilingual repl [--lang <code>] [--show-python]
# Smoke test a language
multilingual smoke --lang <code>
multilingual smoke --all
# Show version
multilingual --version
Use as a Python Library
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from multilingualprogramming import (
ProgramExecutor,
REPL,
Lexer,
Parser,
SemanticAnalyzer,
PythonCodeGenerator,
KeywordRegistry,
MPNumeral,
MPDate,
)
# Execute a multilingual program
executor = ProgramExecutor()
executor.execute("""
let greeting = "Hello"
let times = 3
for i in range(times):
print(f"{greeting} #{i+1}")
""", language="en")
# Inspect keywords for a language
registry = KeywordRegistry()
print(registry.get_keyword("COND_IF", "fr")) # "si"
print(registry.get_keyword("FUNC_DEF", "ja")) # "関数"
print(registry.get_keyword("LOOP_FOR", "ar")) # "لكل"