# Beef

> programming language

**Wikidata**: [Q84104242](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q84104242)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/beef

## Summary
Beef is an object-oriented programming language designed for performance, utilizing static typing and featuring C++ compatibility. It runs across multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, and Linux.

## Key Facts
- Beef is an object-oriented programming language employing static typing.
- It is compatible with C++ and runs on Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems.
- Beef is licensed under the MIT License.
- Its source code is hosted at https://github.com/beefytech/Beef.
- The latest documented version as of the source is 0.43.1, released on 2021-11-22.
- Official website: https://www.beeflang.org (primarily in English).
- It is influenced by programming entities Q2407 (interpreted as C++) and Q2370 (interpreted as Java).
- Aliases include "Beeflang" and "ビーフラン" (Japanese).

## FAQs
### Q: What is Beef primarily used for?
A: Beef is primarily used as an object-oriented programming language, valued for its performance and C++ compatibility, suitable for systems programming and performance-critical applications.

### Q: How does Beef compare to C++?
A: Beef is designed to be a modern alternative to C++, featuring a cleaner syntax and managed execution environment through its Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler, while offering C++ interoperability.

### Q: What platforms can Beef run on?
A: Beef is designed to run on Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems.

### Q: Is Beef open source?
A: Yes, Beef is licensed under the MIT License, making it open source.

### Q: What is its current development status?
A: Active development continued at least until the documented version 0.43.1 released in November 2021.

## Why It Matters
Beef addresses the need for a high-performance, object-oriented language that bridges the gap between low-level systems programming and modern development paradigms. Its C++ compatibility allows leveraging existing C++ ecosystems and codebases, while its JIT compilation and garbage collection simplify memory management compared to manual C++ control. This makes it relevant for game development, system utilities, and other domains demanding performance and maintainability. By providing a safer and often more productive alternative to C++ without sacrificing speed, Beef contributes to the evolution of systems programming languages.

## Notable For
- Being an object-oriented programming language with static typing and C++ compatibility.
- Utilizing Just-In-Time (JIT) compilation for performance and dynamic features.
- Offering garbage collection alongside manual memory control options.
- Providing cross-platform support for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Featuring a modern syntax designed for expressiveness while retaining performance.

## Body
### Overview
Beef is an object-oriented programming language. It is designed to be performant and compatible with C++. The language is maintained under the MIT License and is open source.

### Design and Typing
Beef follows an object-oriented programming paradigm. It employs a static typing system to ensure type safety at compile time. Its design emphasizes performance and integration with C++ code.

### Execution Environment
Beef utilizes a Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler for execution. This allows it to achieve performance comparable to native code while supporting dynamic features. The language provides a garbage collector for automatic memory management, but also allows manual memory control when needed.

### Compatibility and Interoperability
A core feature of Beef is its C++ compatibility. This facilitates interoperability with existing C++ libraries and codebases. It allows developers to call C++ functions and use C++ types directly within Beef code.

### Platforms
Beef is designed to run on multiple operating systems, including Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux.

### Development and Versions
Beef is actively developed. The source code is hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/beefytech/Beef. The project has released several versions, including:
- 0.42.1 (2019-12-29)
- 0.42.2 (2020-04-17)
- 0.42.3 (2020-04-29)
- 0.42.4 (2020-05-20)
- 0.42.5 (2020-06-29)
- 0.42.6 (2020-09-11)
- 0.42.7 (2020-10-05)
- 0.42.8 (2020-12-09)
- 0.43.0 (2021-02-22)
- 0.43.1 (2021-11-22)

### Resources
The official website is https://www.beeflang.org. The project is primarily documented in English. Alternative names for the language include Beeflang and ビーフラン.

## References

1. [GitHub](https://github.com/beefytech/Beef/blob/master/LICENSE.TXT)
2. [Release 0.42.1. 2019](https://github.com/beefytech/Beef/releases/tag/0.42.1)
3. [Release 0.42.2. 2020](https://github.com/beefytech/Beef/releases/tag/0.42.2)
4. [Release 0.42.3. 2020](https://github.com/beefytech/Beef/releases/tag/0.42.3)
5. [Release 0.42.4. 2020](https://github.com/beefytech/Beef/releases/tag/0.42.4)
6. [Release 0.42.5. 2020](https://github.com/beefytech/Beef/releases/tag/0.42.5)
7. [Release 0.42.6. 2020](https://github.com/beefytech/Beef/releases/tag/0.42.6)
8. [Release 0.42.7. 2020](https://github.com/beefytech/Beef/releases/tag/0.42.7)
9. [Release 0.42.8. 2020](https://github.com/beefytech/Beef/releases/tag/0.42.8)
10. [Release 0.43.0. 2021](https://github.com/beefytech/Beef/releases/tag/0.43.0)
11. [Release 0.43.1. 2021](https://github.com/beefytech/Beef/releases/tag/0.43.1)
12. [Release 0.43.2. 2022](https://github.com/beefytech/Beef/releases/tag/0.43.2)
13. [Release 0.43.3. 2022](https://github.com/beefytech/Beef/releases/tag/0.43.3)
14. [Release 0.43.4. 2022](https://github.com/beefytech/Beef/releases/tag/0.43.4)
15. [Release 0.43.5. 2025](https://github.com/beefytech/Beef/releases/tag/0.43.5)