🌌 Project Quantum — Language Specification & Vision Document

Authors: Puranjay & Tarunpreet

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1. 🧠 Introduction

Quantum is a modern systems programming language designed to merge speed, safety, and concurrency — while giving developers the power to choose between performance and security on demand.

Unlike most languages that enforce a single paradigm (either full safety like Rust, or full control like C++), Quantum introduces a dual-mode execution philosophy:

• QF (Quantum Fast) → For performance-critical, low-level code.
• QS (Quantum Safe) → For secure, memory-checked, and isolation-required sections.

Quantum aims to make systems programming as fast as C, as safe as Rust, and as scalable as Go, within a unified framework.

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2. ⚙️ Core Philosophy

Quantum is built around 4 principles:

Principle	Meaning
Control	The developer decides how the program runs — fast or safe.
Simplicity	Syntax and structure should remain clean and predictable.
Performance	The compiler targets native code through LLVM, no VM or GC.
Isolation	Security is opt-in, meaning only sensitive code gets the overhead.

Tagline: "Speed where you can, safety where you must."

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3. 🧩 Execution Modes

Quantum introduces dual compilation modes for flexible trade-offs:

🔹 Quantum Fast (QF)

• No safety checks — full manual control.
• Direct access to raw memory.
• Ideal for microservices, graphics, and high-performance computing.

🔸 Quantum Safe (QS)

• Compile-time safety enforcement.
• Memory ownership and bounds checking.
• Isolated runtime environment (no direct pointer mutation).
• Suitable for backend, cryptography, and system-critical code.

Developers can mix both modes in a single program:

@Secure
fn processUserData(data: string) -> string {
    // Runs in Quantum Safe mode
    return sanitize(data);
}

fn main() {
    let result = processUserData("input");
    compute_fast(result); // Runs in Quantum Fast mode
}

---

4. 🧱 Language Syntax Overview

Quantum's syntax resembles Rust + Go hybrid, designed to be simple yet expressive.

Variables and Functions

let x: int = 5;

fn add(a: int, b: int) -> int {
    return a + b;
}

Conditionals

if (x > 5) {
    print("Greater");
} else {
    print("Lesser");
}

Loops

// for loop 
for i in 0..10 {
    print(i);
}
// do while 
// while 

Structs and Methods

struct Point {
    x: float,
    y: float
}

impl Point {
    fn distance(self, other: Point) -> float {
        return sqrt((self.x - other.x)^2 + (self.y - other.y)^2);
    }
}

Concurrency (Go-style)

fn task(id: int) {
    print("Task", id);
}

fn main() {
    go task(1);
    go task(2);
    wait_all();  // waits for all goroutines
}

---

5. 🧬 Compiler Architecture

The Quantum compiler (qcc) is built using C++ + LLVM.

It follows a multi-phase pipeline:

Source (.q)
   ↓
Lexer
   ↓
Parser → AST
   ↓
Semantic Analyzer (Type + Scope)
   ↓
Security Checker (@Secure mode)
   ↓
LLVM IR Generator
   ↓
Optimizer
   ↓
Binary Output (.out / .exe)

🧩 Compiler Modules

Module	Role
Lexer	Converts source code into tokens.
Parser	Builds an Abstract Syntax Tree (AST).
Semantic Analyzer	Validates types, variable scopes, and function calls.
Security Checker	Enforces rules for @Secure mode.
CodeGen (LLVM)	Translates AST → LLVM IR → native code.
Optimizer	Applies LLVM passes (O1–O3).
CLI Interface	Manages build, run, and debug commands.

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6. 🧠 Memory Model

Quantum uses a stack-first, minimal heap memory model.

Key Features:

• Automatic stack management for local variables.
• Manual heap allocation for dynamic structures.
• Ownership tracking in QS mode (like Rust's borrow checker, but optional).
• No garbage collector — Quantum aims for deterministic performance.

Example:

fn demo() {
    let a = 5;             // stack
    let arr = heap; // heap allocation
    arr[2] = 10;
    free(arr);              // manual release (only in QF mode)
}

Security Hooks:

In QS mode, memory allocations are tagged as secure_region.

Future versions can encrypt or sandbox these regions at runtime.

---

7. 🔐 Selective Security System (@Secure)

Quantum's @Secure annotation introduces compile-time verification and optional runtime isolation.

Compile-Time Rules

Inside @Secure functions:

• No pointer arithmetic.
• No unsafe casts.
• All arrays have bounds checks.
• Ownership enforcement (no dangling references).

Future Runtime Rules

• Encrypted memory segments.
• Isolated thread pools.
• Dynamic sandboxing for critical code.

---

8. ⚡ Concurrency Model

Quantum uses goroutine-like lightweight threads:

• go keyword spawns a concurrent function.
• Communication via typed channels.
• Internal cooperative scheduler for task management.

Example:

chan<int> numbers;

fn producer() {
    for i in 1..5 {
        numbers.send(i);
    }
}

fn consumer() {
    while let val = numbers.recv() {
        print(val);
    }
}

fn main() {
    go producer();
    go consumer();
    wait_all();
}

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9. 🧮 Optimization System

Quantum's optimizer is built on top of LLVM's pass manager.

Optimization Levels

• O0: No optimization (debug mode)
• O1: Basic constant folding, DCE
• O2: Function inlining, CFG simplification
• O3: Aggressive loop unrolling, vectorization

Selective optimizations are applied:

• @Secure code disables unsafe optimizations.
• QF code uses full LLVM optimizations.

---

10. 📦 Runtime Library

Quantum includes a minimal runtime for:

• Memory allocation (stack_alloc, heap_alloc)
• Concurrency primitives (goroutines, channels)
• IO and math support
• Secure memory API (future)

Organized as:

runtime/
├── memory/
├── concurrency/
├── security/
└── runtime.h

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11. 📚 Standard Library

The standard library (stdlib/) will be written in Quantum itself.

Modules planned:

• io.q — Input/output
• math.q — Math utilities
• string.q — String manipulation
• system.q — Environment access
• concurrency.q — Goroutines and channels

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12. 🧰 Toolchain

Quantum ecosystem tools:

Tool	Description
qcc	Quantum compiler (main binary).
qpm	Quantum Package Manager.
qfmt	Code formatter.
qtest	Test runner.
LSP Server	Editor integration (syntax highlight, autocomplete).

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13. 🔭 Future Roadmap

Phase	Goal
Phase 1	Minimal compiler + basic syntax + LLVM IR output.
Phase 2	Memory model + ownership + runtime integration.
Phase 3	Implement @Secure + selective safety enforcement.
Phase 4	Add concurrency + channel-based communication.
Phase 5	Optimize performance, add standard library.
Phase 6	Cross-platform support + tooling ecosystem.

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14. 💡 Philosophical Summary

Quantum isn't just a compiler — it's a statement:

"Developers deserve control. Security should be a choice, not a prison."

It bridges the gap between safety and freedom, giving power back to the programmer — with a compiler intelligent enough to support both worlds.

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15. 🧭 Final Vision

Build a language that:

• Compiles to pure native machine code
• Runs as fast as C++
• Enforces safety when you ask for it
• Concurrency built into its DNA
• And a compiler that's simple, modular, and educational to build

Quantum is not about replacing C++ or Rust —

It's about evolving the way we think about performance and safety, not as opposites, but as two sides of the same quantum state.

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📁 Project Structure

Quantum/
│
├── README.md
├── LICENSE
├── Makefile                # For building the compiler & runtime
├── CMakeLists.txt          # Optional: for cross-platform builds
│
├── docs/                   # Documentation & design papers
│   ├── roadmap.md
│   ├── syntax_spec.md
│   ├── memory_model.md
│   ├── security_model.md
│   ├── concurrency_design.md
│   └── compiler_architecture.md
│
├── examples/               # Example .q programs
│   ├── hello.q
│   ├── fibonacci.q
│   ├── concurrency_test.q
│   ├── secure_memory.q
│   └── benchmark.q
│
├── src/                    # Source code for the compiler itself
│   │
│   ├── main.cpp            # Entry point for the compiler
│   │
│   ├── lexer/              # Lexical analysis
│   │   ├── lexer.cpp
│   │   ├── lexer.h
│   │   ├── token.h
│   │   └── token_types.h
│   │
│   ├── parser/             # Parser + AST
│   │   ├── parser.cpp
│   │   ├── parser.h
│   │   ├── ast.cpp
│   │   └── ast.h
│   │
│   ├── semantic/           # Type checker & semantic analysis
│   │   ├── type_checker.cpp
│   │   ├── type_checker.h
│   │   ├── symbol_table.cpp
│   │   └── symbol_table.h
│   │
│   ├── codegen/            # Code generation (LLVM backend)
│   │   ├── codegen.cpp
│   │   ├── codegen.h
│   │   ├── llvm_bridge.cpp
│   │   └── llvm_bridge.h
│   │
│   ├── memory/             # Memory model (stack/heap, ownership tracking)
│   │   ├── memory_manager.cpp
│   │   ├── memory_manager.h
│   │   ├── ownership.cpp
│   │   └── ownership.h
│   │
│   ├── security/           # @Secure annotation & safe mode logic
│   │   ├── secure_checker.cpp
│   │   ├── secure_checker.h
│   │   ├── policy_engine.cpp
│   │   └── policy_engine.h
│   │
│   ├── concurrency/        # Go-style lightweight threading
│   │   ├── goroutine.cpp
│   │   ├── goroutine.h
│   │   ├── scheduler.cpp
│   │   └── scheduler.h
│   │
│   ├── optimizer/          # LLVM pass setup, speed/memory optimization
│   │   ├── optimizer.cpp
│   │   └── optimizer.h
│   │
│   ├── utils/              # Shared tools/utilities
│   │   ├── logger.cpp
│   │   ├── logger.h
│   │   ├── error.cpp
│   │   ├── error.h
│   │   └── config.h
│   │
│   └── cli/                # Compiler CLI interface
│       ├── cli.cpp
│       └── cli.h
│
├── runtime/                # Low-level runtime library (used by generated binaries)
│   ├── memory/
│   │   ├── heap_allocator.cpp
│   │   └── stack_allocator.cpp
│   ├── concurrency/
│   │   ├── thread_api.cpp
│   │   └── channel_api.cpp
│   ├── security/
│   │   ├── sandbox.cpp
│   │   └── memory_guard.cpp
│   └── runtime.h
│
├── stdlib/                 # Standard library for Quantum programs
│   ├── io.q
│   ├── math.q
│   ├── string.q
│   ├── system.q
│   └── concurrency.q
│
├── tests/                  # Unit tests for compiler + runtime
│   ├── lexer_tests.cpp
│   ├── parser_tests.cpp
│   ├── memory_tests.cpp
│   ├── secure_tests.cpp
│   ├── concurrency_tests.cpp
│   └── codegen_tests.cpp
│
└── tools/                  # Developer tools (future)
    ├── lsp/                # Language Server Protocol integration
    │   ├── lsp_server.cpp
    │   └── lsp_protocol.h
    ├── package_manager/
    │   ├── qp_init.cpp
    │   ├── qp_build.cpp
    │   └── qp_publish.cpp
    └── formatter/
        ├── formatter.cpp
        └── formatter.h

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🚀 Getting Started

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/puranjay369/Quantum.git
   cd Quantum

2. Build the compiler:

   make all

3. Run examples:

   ./qcc examples/hello.q
   ./hello

4. Run tests:

   make test

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🤝 Contributing

We welcome contributions! Please see our roadmap in docs/roadmap.md for current priorities.

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch
3. Make your changes
4. Add tests
5. Submit a pull request

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📜 License

This project is licensed under the terms specified in the LICENSE file.

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📞 Contact

• Puranjay: [GitHub Profile]
• Tarunpreet: [GitHub Profile]

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"The future of systems programming is quantum — neither purely safe nor purely fast, but both, when you need them."