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jbr/sibilant

Just another compile-to-js LISP-like language
Source code at GitHub https://sibilant.org
jbr/sibilant.json
{
  "createdAt": "2010-07-05T03:15:12Z",
  "defaultBranch": "main",
  "description": "Just another compile-to-js LISP-like language",
  "fullName": "jbr/sibilant",
  "homepage": "https://sibilant.org",
  "language": "JavaScript",
  "name": "sibilant",
  "pushedAt": "2020-07-29T20:47:15Z",
  "stargazersCount": 388,
  "topics": [],
  "updatedAt": "2025-08-07T15:20:03Z",
  "url": "https://github.com/jbr/sibilant"
}

CI Gitter

Sibilant

Section titled “Sibilant”
  • Sibilant is a language that is parsed by javascript and compiles to javascript.
  • Sibilant is inspired by lisp and follows many lisp conventions, although it is still relatively close to the underlying javascript.
  • Macros can be defined in sibilant and included at compile time.
  • Sibilant is entirely written in sibilant.

Language Priorities

Section titled “Language Priorities”
  • Prefer verbose names to abbreviations by default.
  • Avoid line noise. Prefer established punctuation semantics from natural languages and common programming languages (eg commas come after things and mean a pause or separation).
  • Prefer readable and idiomatic javascript output, which necessitates sticking fairly closely to javascript semantics. Switching cost from sibilant to directly editing the output javascript should be low.
  • Prefer expressions to statements. This is the most notable exception to the adherance to idiomatic javascript. Self-executing functions are used extensively to this end.
  • Allow as much of the language to be modified in-source as possible. This includes the ability to rename/remove/redefine all keywords and macros.
  • Any language constructs that do not output readable javascript should be opt-in.
  • Add language features slowly, and only when there’s a real use case. Don’t blindly implement Lisp features without reasoning through the need.
  • Provide tools to simplify avoidance of repetition.

Installation

Section titled “Installation”

First, install node.js [ github ] and npm [ github ]. Then, it’s as simple as:

$ npm install sibilant -g
$ sibilant --help

Hello world in the REPL

Section titled “Hello world in the REPL”
$ sibilant
sibilant> (+ 1 2)
(1 + 2)
result: 3
sibilant> (console.log "hello world")
console.log("hello world")
hello world

Try it before you install

Section titled “Try it before you install”

sibilant.org includes an in-browser as-you-type sibilant compiler and tutorial, so you can get a sense of the language without leaving your browser.

Learning the language

Section titled “Learning the language”

The most up to date documentation is at sibilant.org and docs.sibilant.org. Also, check out sibilant itself, which is written 100% in sibilant to get a sense of what’s possible.

License

Section titled “License”

Sibilant is released under the MIT license (wikipedia).