Zind is a dynamic, structural API indexing tool designed for the rapidly evolving Zig programming language.
In the midst of the significant changes from Zig 0.13 to 0.15 and now 0.16.0, static documentation and online resources often become outdated. Zind does not rely on external indices; instead, it performs direct AST (Abstract Syntax Tree) analysis on the "Ground Truth"—the actual Zig source code currently installed on your system—to provide immediate visualization of its logical structure.
日本語版のREADMEはこちら (Japanese version available here)
Zind respects developer privacy and decentralized technical infrastructure. Codeberg is our primary development hub.
- Primary Repository (Source of Truth): codeberg.org/tsukumoakito/zind
- Issue tracking, Pull Requests, Wiki, and discussions are managed here.
- Mirror Repository: github.com/tsukumoakito/zind
- Used for public outreach and binary distribution (Releases).
Zind is written in Zig and follows the standard zig build workflow.
To build and install the binary, man pages, and documentation manually:
# Clone the repository
git clone https://codeberg.org/tsukumoakito/zind.git
cd zind
# Build in release mode (Recommended: ReleaseSafe)
zig build -Doptimize=ReleaseSafe
# 1. Install the binary
sudo cp zig-out/bin/zind /usr/local/bin/
# 2. Install man pages (Requires 'scdoc' at build time)
sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/share/man/man1
sudo cp zig-out/share/man/man1/zind.1 /usr/local/share/man/man1/
# 3. Install manuals and license
sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/share/doc/zind
sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/share/licenses/zind
sudo cp zig-out/doc/*.md /usr/local/share/doc/zind/
sudo cp LICENSE /usr/local/share/licenses/zind/If you are using Arch Linux or an Arch-based distribution (e.g., Manjaro, EndeavourOS), the most reliable way to install is via the AUR (Arch User Repository):
| Package | Version | Description | Votes | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| zind |  |
Dynamic structural API indexer for Zig |  |
  |
Install using an AUR helper:
# Using yay
yay -S zind
# Using paru
paru -S zindZind automatically scans your environment to select the optimal settings.
-
Zvm / Standard Zig Support: If the
zigcommand is in your path, Zind automatically identifies the standard library (std) path associated with that specific binary. This includes support for version managers such aszvm,mise, orasdf, provided thezigbinary is correctly exported to your PATH. -
Analyze Arbitrary Zig Versions/Packages: Use the
--std-pathflag to point Zind at a specific Zig version or a local package not in your standard path. -
Explicit Language Setting: Use
--lang <en|ja>to override the automatic environment detection (based onLC_ALL,LC_MESSAGESorLANG). Note: To maintain semantic consistency with Zig identifiers, localization is limited to help messages and documentation. The core indexing output remains in English.# Search within a specific Zig version's standard library zind --std-path /path/to/zig-0.16.0/lib/std --search ArrayList
- Man Pages: Unix/Linux/macOS users can refer to
man zindfor terminal-native documentation. - Local Manual (Build Output): After running
zig build, copies of the manual are available inzig-out/doc/. This is recommended for environments withoutman(e.g., native Windows). - Full Manual (Repository Source): For web-friendly reading or deep dive:
Zind is a third-party exploration tool. For the standard toolchain and official documentation, please refer to:
- Zig Toolchain: Use
zig helpin your terminal to list standard commands. - Official Website: https://ziglang.org/ — The definitive portal for the Zig community and language specs.
In Zig development, the most accurate documentation is always the source code itself. However, navigating the labyrinth of the standard library can be daunting for beginners and experts alike.
Zind was developed to achieve three core goals:
- Eliminate Information Expiration: Instantly locate namespaces that shift during updates (e.g., the transition from
std.ostostd.posix) using Fully Qualified Names (FQN). - Visualize Implementation Lineage: Determine if a symbol is a simple alias, a wrapper, or a factory function. Zind traces the lineage back to the ultimate definition.
- Evaluate Conditional Definitions: Complex definitions that change based on OS or Architecture are filtered and identified based on your current environment or specific target flags.
--scope <namespace>Restrict the analysis to specific namespaces (e.g.,std.mem,std.fs).--depth <N|unlimited>Set the recursion depth.0shows only the target;unlimitedcrawls every member beneath it.--depth-scope <N> <scope>An atomic flag to specify a precise depth for a specific scope.--top-level/--top-level-subPresets to quickly view members of a primary namespace or their immediate children.
--search <keywords>Perform a keyword search across FQNs, doc comments, and constant values.--probe <fqn>Target a specific FQN to extract its implementation lineage and actual source code snippets.--flagged-deprecatedExtract only symbols marked asDeprecated. Perfect for refactoring during version upgrades.
--target-os <os>/--target-arch <arch>Simulate API definitions for platforms other than your current host.--libc/--no-libcToggle conditional compilation paths based on C library linkage.
The following options are part of the Project Mode development roadmap. In v1.0.0, using these will display a warning and terminate the analysis as they are not yet available.
--mode projectEnable experimental project-local symbol indexing.--include <file1,...>/--exclude <file1,...>Whitelist or blacklist specific files for project analysis.--skeletonGenerate logic hierarchy and call graph skeletons.--users <symbol>List all references and call sites of a specific symbol.--trace-up <symbol>Trace logic propagation from a target back to entry points.
Zind's output is designed to convey maximum implementation semantics in minimum lines.
- Lineage Tracing (
>>>)A = B >>> CIndicates that symbol A is an alias for B, which is ultimately defined as C. This makes alias chains transparent. - Conditional Definitions (
[...])std.posix.Stat [native_os is linux] = ...Clarifies the specific conditions (OS, Arch, build options) under which a definition becomes active. - Hidden Item Counts
(+n items): Public (pub) members that exist but are omitted due to depth settings.{+n items}: Private internal implementation members. This serves as a metric for the complexity of a structure.
Zind is released under the MIT License. It is free for both personal and commercial use, provided the copyright notice and permission notice are included.
See the LICENSE file for the full text.
If you need professional support, custom feature development, or integration assistance with Zig 0.16.0 infrastructure, feel free to contact: tsukumoakito99@duck.com
The high-density structured text output by Zind is more than just a human-readable "dictionary." It functions as a specialized protocol for transmitting "Structural Semantics" at an extremely low informational cost.
In modern workflows requiring semantic analysis or context compression—such as advanced static analysis engines or systems designed to ingest implementation intent—Zind serves as a robust interface for injecting the full scope of a language's current implementation with minimal token consumption.
To the trained eye, this output is not just text; it is a map.