# Odin

> programming language

**Wikidata**: [Q64840933](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q64840933)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/odin-q64840933

## Summary
Odin is a compiled programming language designed to address frustrations with C++, first developed in July 2016 by Ginger Bill. It combines influences from Go, Oberon, C, and C++ to prioritize simplicity, safety, and efficiency in systems programming.

## Key Facts
- **Inception**: July 2016, initiated by Ginger Bill as a response to dissatisfaction with C++.
- **License**: 2-clause BSD License (source: [GitHub LICENSE](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/blob/master/LICENSE)).
- **Influences**: Go, Oberon, C, and C++ (source: [Odin FAQ](https://odin-lang.org/docs/faq/)).
- **Latest Version**: 0.0.6b (released January 29, 2017).
- **Repository**: Hosted on GitHub at [https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin).
- **Website**: [https://odin-lang.org/](https://odin-lang.org/), built with Hugo.

## FAQs
### Q: When was Odin created?
A: Odin was first developed in late July 2016 by Ginger Bill, who sought to create a safer, more efficient alternative to C++.

### Q: What languages influenced Odin?
A: Odin draws inspiration from Go, Oberon, C, and C++, incorporating elements like simplicity, compile-time evaluation, and memory safety.

### Q: Is Odin still actively maintained?
A: The latest documented release is version 0.0.6b (January 2017). No official updates on current maintenance status are provided in the source material.

## Why It Matters
Odin represents an effort to modernize systems programming by blending the low-level control of C++ with the ergonomic design of languages like Go and Oberon. It emphasizes compile-time evaluation, memory safety, and minimal runtime overhead, targeting developers who require performance without sacrificing usability. By addressing pain points in C++ (e.g., complexity, error-prone syntax), Odin aims to streamline development for applications such as game engines, embedded systems, and high-performance tools. Its open-source nature and permissive BSD license further encourage community adoption and customization.

## Notable For
- **Design Philosophy**: Prioritizes simplicity, safety, and compile-time evaluation over runtime dependencies.
- **Influences**: Unique blend of Go’s concurrency model, Oberon’s clarity, and C/C++’s systems-level access.
- **License**: Permissive 2-clause BSD License, enabling free use in commercial and open-source projects.

## Body
### Development History
- **Inception**: The project began in late July 2016, driven by Ginger Bill’s frustration with C++’s complexity and error-prone nature.
- **Early Releases**: Initial versions (e.g., 0.0.3c, 0.0.4) were released in late 2016, with rapid iterations through 2017 (e.g., 0.0.5a–0.0.6b).

### Technical Design
- **Compilation**: Odin compiles directly to machine code, avoiding virtual machines or interpreters.
- **Features**: Supports hot-reloading, compile-time evaluation, and memory safety mechanisms while retaining low-level control.

### Licensing and Accessibility
- **Open Source**: Hosted on GitHub under a 2-clause BSD License, ensuring permissive reuse and modification.
- **Documentation**: Guided by a FAQ and design philosophy detailed on [odin-lang.org](https://odin-lang.org/).

### Version History
- **0.0.3c**: Released November 23, 2016.
- **0.0.4**: Released December 9, 2016.
- **0.0.5 Series**: Iterated from January 3–7, 2017 (versions 0.0.5–0.0.5e).
- **0.0.6b**: Latest documented release (January 29, 2017).

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/blob/master/LICENSE)
2. [Source](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.0.3c)
3. [Release 0.0.3d. 2016](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.0.3d)
4. [Release 0.0.4. 2016](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.0.4)
5. [Release 0.0.5e. 2017](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.0.5e)
6. [Release 0.0.5d. 2017](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.0.5d)
7. [Release 0.0.5c. 2017](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.0.5c)
8. [Release 0.0.5b. 2017](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.0.5b)
9. [Release 0.0.5a. 2017](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.0.5a)
10. [Release 0.0.5. 2017](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.0.5)
11. [Release 0.0.6b. 2017](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.0.6b)
12. [Release 0.0.6a. 2017](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.0.6a)
13. [Release 0.0.6. 2017](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.0.6)
14. [Release 0.1.0. 2017](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.1.0)
15. [Release 0.1.1. 2017](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.1.1)
16. [Release 0.1.3. 2017](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.1.3)
17. [Release 0.2.0. 2017](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.2.0)
18. [Release 0.2.1. 2017](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.2.1)
19. [Release 0.3.0. 2017](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.3.0)
20. [Release 0.4.0. 2017](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.4.0)
21. [Release 0.5.0. 2017](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.5.0)
22. [Release 0.6.0. 2017](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.6.0)
23. [Release 0.6.1a. 2017](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.6.1a)
24. [Release 0.6.1. 2017](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.6.1)
25. [Release 0.6.2. 2017](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.6.2)
26. [Release 0.7.0. 2017](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.7.0)
27. [Release 0.7.1. 2017](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.7.1)
28. [Release 0.8.0. 2018](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.8.0)
29. [Release 0.8.1. 2018](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.8.1)
30. [Release 0.9.0. 2018](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.9.0)
31. [Release 0.9.1. 2018](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/0.9.1)
32. [Release 0.10.0. 2019](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.10.0)
33. [Release 0.11.0. 2019](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.11.0)
34. [Release 0.11.1. 2019](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.11.1)
35. [Release 0.12.0. 2020](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.12.0)
36. [Release 0.13.0. 2020](https://github.com/odin-lang/Odin/releases/tag/v0.13.0)
37. [Source](https://odin-lang.org/docs/faq/)