Zig Roadmap 2026

This podcast episode features a single speaker who provides updates on the Zig programming language, including accomplishments from the past year and plans for the upcoming year. The speaker discusses Zig Fetch, the x86 backend, ZigCC, language changes like labeled switch, toolchain improvements, file system watching, and the resurrection of async/await. The speaker also makes community announcements, including Software You Can Love Vancouver 2026 and Zig Days. The speaker then answers questions from the audience on a variety of topics, including the x86 backend, async code, function coloring, and the Zig build system. The speaker concludes by encouraging listeners to financially support the Zig Software Foundation.

Outlines

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Zig SHOWTIME

Introduction to Zig Language Updates and Roadmap

Zig Fetch: Package Manager Feature Demo

x86 Backend Enabled by Default in Debug Mode

Performance Demonstration and Windows Caveats for x86 Backend

ZigCC and Undefined Behavior Sanitizer

Language Changes and Labeled Switch Feature

Toolchain Improvements and Target Support

File System Watching and Compiler Build Workflow

Experimental Executable Rebuilds and macOS File Watching Issues

Translate C Package and Eliminating Dependencies

Revealing the Secret: ARM64 Backend

ARM64 Backend Code Generation and Optimization

QEMU Integration and Release Mode Plans

Resurrection of Async Await and IO Interface

Async Await and Dynamic Linking Considerations

Fuzzing Toolchain and Roadmap

Community Announcements: Mirrors, Software You Can Love, and Zig Days

Zigtoberfest Announcement

Q&A: Stage 2 Compiler and Build System Plans

Q&A: x86 Backend and LLD

Q&A: Mutexes, Futexes, and Incremental Compilation

Q&A: File System Watcher Code

Q&A: Allocator and IO Interface

Q&A: V Tables and Virtual Function Calls

Q&A: Medium to Long Term Horizon

Q&A: Pinstructs

Q&A: Syntax Sugar for V Table Based Interfaces

Q&A: Tightly Integrating Other Operating Systems

Supporting the Zig Software Foundation and Closing Remarks

Zig Roadmap 2026

Zig SHOWTIME

00:04Introduction to Zig Language Updates and Roadmap

Introduction to Zig Language Updates and Roadmap

02:36Zig Fetch: Package Manager Feature Demo

Zig Fetch: Package Manager Feature Demo

04:57x86 Backend Enabled by Default in Debug Mode

x86 Backend Enabled by Default in Debug Mode

08:34Performance Demonstration and Windows Caveats for x86 Backend

Performance Demonstration and Windows Caveats for x86 Backend

12:50ZigCC and Undefined Behavior Sanitizer

ZigCC and Undefined Behavior Sanitizer

19:38Language Changes and Labeled Switch Feature

Language Changes and Labeled Switch Feature

26:02Toolchain Improvements and Target Support

Toolchain Improvements and Target Support

32:56File System Watching and Compiler Build Workflow

File System Watching and Compiler Build Workflow

40:40Experimental Executable Rebuilds and macOS File Watching Issues

Experimental Executable Rebuilds and macOS File Watching Issues

46:43Translate C Package and Eliminating Dependencies

Translate C Package and Eliminating Dependencies

50:50Revealing the Secret: ARM64 Backend

Revealing the Secret: ARM64 Backend

53:31ARM64 Backend Code Generation and Optimization

ARM64 Backend Code Generation and Optimization

57:03QEMU Integration and Release Mode Plans

QEMU Integration and Release Mode Plans

1:00:34Resurrection of Async Await and IO Interface

Resurrection of Async Await and IO Interface

1:14:44Async Await and Dynamic Linking Considerations

Async Await and Dynamic Linking Considerations

1:23:31Fuzzing Toolchain and Roadmap

Fuzzing Toolchain and Roadmap

1:29:55Community Announcements: Mirrors, Software You Can Love, and Zig Days

Community Announcements: Mirrors, Software You Can Love, and Zig Days

1:38:53Zigtoberfest Announcement

Zigtoberfest Announcement

1:40:54Q&A: Stage 2 Compiler and Build System Plans

Q&A: Stage 2 Compiler and Build System Plans

1:47:45Q&A: x86 Backend and LLD

Q&A: x86 Backend and LLD

1:50:26Q&A: Mutexes, Futexes, and Incremental Compilation

Q&A: Mutexes, Futexes, and Incremental Compilation

1:52:32Q&A: File System Watcher Code

Q&A: File System Watcher Code

1:56:24Q&A: Allocator and IO Interface

Q&A: Allocator and IO Interface

1:59:32Q&A: V Tables and Virtual Function Calls

Q&A: V Tables and Virtual Function Calls

2:01:14Q&A: Medium to Long Term Horizon

Q&A: Medium to Long Term Horizon

2:04:40Q&A: Pinstructs

Q&A: Pinstructs

2:06:58Q&A: Syntax Sugar for V Table Based Interfaces

Q&A: Syntax Sugar for V Table Based Interfaces

2:11:38Q&A: Tightly Integrating Other Operating Systems

Q&A: Tightly Integrating Other Operating Systems

2:14:52Supporting the Zig Software Foundation and Closing Remarks

Supporting the Zig Software Foundation and Closing Remarks