System Requirements
macOS
macOS 12 (Monterey) or later. Intel and Apple Silicon supported.
Linux
Ubuntu 20.04+, Fedora 36+, or any modern distribution with glibc 2.31+.
Windows
Windows 10 or later with PowerShell 5.1+. WSL2 also supported.
Step 1: Install Clean Language
Choose your preferred installation method below.
VS Code / Cursor Extension (Easiest)
Install the Clean Language extension and it will guide you through the entire setup, including compiler installation.
Install ExtensionUsing the Command Line
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Ivan-Pasco/clean-language-manager/main/install.sh | shirm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Ivan-Pasco/clean-language-manager/main/install.ps1 | iexUsing Cargo (Rust)
cargo install clean-language-compilerVerify Installation
cln --versionStep 2: Create Your First Program
Write a simple Clean Language program to verify your setup.
Create a New Project
mkdir my-project
cd my-project
cln initWrite Your Code
Create a file named hello.cln with the following content:
start:
string message = greet("Clean Language")
print(message)
integer result = add(5, 3)
print("5 + 3 = " + result.toString())
functions:
string greet(string name)
return "Hello, {name}!"
integer add(integer a, integer b)
return a + bCompile and Run
# Compile to WebAssembly
cln compile -o hello.wasm hello.cln
# Run with clean runtime
cln run hello.wasmExpected Output
Hello, Clean Language!
5 + 3 = 8Step 3: Learn the Basics
Explore fundamental concepts and start building real applications.
Variables & Types
Learn about Clean's powerful type system, type inference, and how to declare variables safely.
View Syntax →Functions
Understand how to write functions, work with parameters, return values, and organize reusable code.
View Syntax →Classes & Objects
Master object-oriented programming with classes, inheritance using is, and constructors in Clean Language.
View Syntax →Async Programming
Handle concurrent operations with start/later/background keywords for clean async code.
View Syntax →VS Code Extension
Get syntax highlighting, autocomplete, and inline error checking with the Clean Language extension.
Install Extension →What's Next?
Troubleshooting
Common issues and how to resolve them
cln: command not found
The Clean Language binary isn't in your PATH. Run the installer again or add it manually:
export PATH="$HOME/.cleen/bin:$PATH"Permission denied
The installer needs write access to ~/.cleen. Fix permissions:
chmod +x ~/.cleen/bin/clnCompilation errors
Check that your .cln file uses correct indentation (tabs, not spaces) and valid syntax. Use the type checker for fast feedback:
cln check hello.clnNeed help?
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