Julia is a high-level, high-performance, open source, flexible, dynamic programming language for technical computing. It is multi-paradigm, combining features of imperative, functional, and object-oriented programming. Julia’s hash syntax is familiar to users of other technical computing environments especially MATLAB.
Julia offers a sophisticated compiler, distributed parallel execution, numerical accuracy, and an extensive mathematical function library.
The library, largely written in Julia itself, also integrates mature, best-of-breed C and Fortran libraries for linear algebra, random number generation, signal processing, and string processing.
Additionally, the Julia developer community is contributing a number of external packages through Julia’s built-in package manager. Julia programs are organized around defining functions, and overloading them for different combinations of argument types (which can also be user-defined).
Features include:
- Components:
- Syntax layer.
- Symbolic language and corresponding data structures for representing certain kinds of types.
- Implementation of generic functions and dynamic multiple dispatch.
- Compiler intrinsic functions for accessing the object model.
- Compiler intrinsic functions for native arithmetic, bit string operations, and calling native (C or Fortran) functions.
- mechanism for binding top-level names.
- High-level, Python-like syntax.
- Dynamic types (with type hinting).
- Expressive – a rich language of types for constructing and describing objects.
- Fast – approaches the speed of statically-compiled languages like C.
- Optional typing.
- User-defined types are as fast and compact as built-ins.
- Define function behavior across many combinations of argument types via multiple dispatch.
- Lightweight “green” threading (coroutines).
- Efficient support for Unicode, including but not limited to UTF-8.
- Call C functions directly (no wrappers or special APIs needed).
- Powerful shell-like capabilities for managing other processes.
- Lisp-like macros and other metaprogramming facilities.
- Good range of libraries for common scientific and engineering computing tasks.
Website: julialang.org
Support: Documentation
Developer: Jeff Bezanson, Stefan Karpinski, Viral B. Shah, and other contributors
License: MIT License
Return to New Programming Languages
| Popular series | |
|---|---|
 | The largest compilation of the best free and open source software in the universe. Each article is supplied with a legendary ratings chart helping you to make informed decisions. |
 | Hundreds of in-depth reviews offering our unbiased and expert opinion on software. We offer helpful and impartial information. |
 | Replace proprietary software with open source alternatives: Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Autodesk, Oracle, Atlassian, Corel, Cisco, Intuit, and SAS. |
 | Awesome Free Linux Games Tools showcases a series of tools that making gaming on Linux a more pleasurable experience. This is a new series. |
 | Machine Learning explores practical applications of machine learning and deep learning from a Linux perspective. We've written reviews of more than 40 self-hosted apps. All are free and open source. |
 | New to Linux? Read our Linux for Starters series. We start right at the basics and teach you everything you need to know to get started with Linux. |
 | Alternatives to popular CLI tools showcases essential tools that are modern replacements for core Linux utilities. |
 | Essential Linux system tools focuses on small, indispensable utilities, useful for system administrators as well as regular users. |
 | Linux utilities to maximise your productivity. Small, indispensable tools, useful for anyone running a Linux machine. |
 | Surveys popular streaming services from a Linux perspective: Amazon Music Unlimited, Myuzi, Spotify, Deezer, Tidal. |
 | Saving Money with Linux looks at how you can reduce your energy bills running Linux. |
 | Home computers became commonplace in the 1980s. Emulate home computers including the Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, ZX81, Amstrad CPC, and ZX Spectrum. |
 | Now and Then examines how promising open source software fared over the years. It can be a bumpy ride. |
 | Linux at Home looks at a range of home activities where Linux can play its part, making the most of our time at home, keeping active and engaged. |
 | Linux Candy reveals the lighter side of Linux. Have some fun and escape from the daily drudgery. |
 | Getting Started with Docker helps you master Docker, a set of platform as a service products that delivers software in packages called containers. |
 | Best Free Android Apps. We showcase free Android apps that are definitely worth downloading. There's a strict eligibility criteria for inclusion in this series. |
 | These best free books accelerate your learning of every programming language. Learn a new language today! |
 | These free tutorials offer the perfect tonic to our free programming books series. |
 | Linux Around The World showcases usergroups that are relevant to Linux enthusiasts. Great ways to meet up with fellow enthusiasts. |
 | Stars and Stripes is an occasional series looking at the impact of Linux in the USA. |