zig

Zig requires explicit memory allocators for all heap allocations. You must pass an allocator instance to functions needing memory, manually free what you allocate, and use arena allocators for scoped cleanup to prevent leaks.

Comptime in Zig allows code execution and type generation during compilation. It enables generic data structures, compile-time code path elimination, and zero-cost abstractions by evaluating expressions before the binary is built.

The build.zig file configures cross-compilation by setting the target triple in the build step. You specify the desired operating system and architecture directly in the build script to generate the correct cross-compiled binary.

Zig provides built-in C interoperability by importing C header files directly without manual bindings. You can call C functions seamlessly and expose Zig functions back to C code using explicit export declarations.

Zig uses error sets for robust error handling instead of exceptions. Best practices include returning explicit error types, using the try keyword for propagation, and writing test blocks alongside code for validation.

Zig enforces explicit memory management to ensure deterministic performance and safety without a hidden garbage collector. A limitation is the lack of hidden allocations, requiring strict manual tracking of all memory lifetimes.