Getting started
Getting started
Build Quirl from source and learn the three boundaries that shape every session.
Quirl is deliberately familiar at the prompt. Start with the commands you already know, opt into typed data when rows and records are the right model, and reach for Lua when you need general-purpose logic.
Install from source
Use the pinned Rust 1.88 toolchain and run the current candidate.
Try the core workflow
Move between command bytes, typed values, and Lua.
Check project status
See what is supported today and what remains prerelease.
The mental model
| Surface | Carries | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Command mode | byte streams | familiar programs, redirects, jobs, Bash/Zsh islands |
| Data mode | typed values | records, tables, filtering, selection, structured output |
| Lua 5.4 | bounded logic | configuration, scripts, prompts, completion, plugins |
No mode silently pretends to be another. Native Quirl scripts make their grammar boundaries visible, and values crossing the Lua boundary are validated by Rust.