Installing Luma - What’s Coming Soon

Luma is shaping up fast, and as the language grows, we want to make it as accessible and smooth to adopt as possible - whether you’re a Go developer, a newcomer, or a scripting enthusiast. That’s why we’re planning a dual-mode installation system that fits different user needs.

Two Ways to Install Luma

We want Luma to just work. So instead of one rigid setup path, you’ll be able to choose:

1. Use System Go (Lightweight Mode)

If you already have Go installed, Luma can plug right into it.

• Small CLI download
• Reuses your existing Go environment
• Ideal for devs already using Go
• Easy to update via go install

go install luma-lang.dev/cmd/luma@latest
luma build hello.luma

2. Use Bundled Go (Zero-Config Mode)

Don’t have Go? No worries.

• We’ll ship the Go toolchain inside the Luma CLI
• You can just download and run it - no setup needed
• CLI auto-detects the embedded Go
• Beginner-friendly, works out-of-the-box

luma/
├── luma             # CLI binary
├── go/              # Embedded Go toolchain
│   └── bin/go

Run Luma like always:

./luma build myfile.luma

Under the hood:

• If go is found in your system → Luma uses it
• Otherwise → Luma uses ./go/bin/go
• Still works exactly the same

Future Additions

We’re planning these enhancements too:

• --use-system-go / --use-bundled-go flags
• Environment variable: LUMA_GO_PATH
• Pre-built installers for:
  • Windows (.exe / .msi)
  • macOS (.pkg)
  • Linux (.deb, .AppImage, .tar.gz)

Why This Matters

We want Luma to be:

• Effortless to start with
• Powerful to grow into
• Friendly to learners and pros alike

This dual-installation model supports a wide range of environments - from local scripting to CI/CD systems to education settings.

Stay Tuned

Have feedback or thoughts? Jump into our Ideas & Wishlist section - your input shapes Luma!