D

Introduction

D is static, compiled language influenced by C++. It was created by Walter Bright, author of the first C++ compiler to compile directly to machine code without using C as an intermediate language.^{[citation needed]}

D has an imperative core, but is a multi-paradigm language that includes support for object-orientated, functional, and generic programming.

Advantages

• Compiles natively with performance comparable to C++ while still being garbage collected by default.
• Interfaces well with C libraries, without writing boilerplate or using a foreign function interface and can import headers unmodified - see https://github.com/atilaneves/dpp. Although C++ interfacing is more limited, it is available (see D Programming Language Specification: Chapter 33).
• Has a modern module system, no need to write header files or deal with a preprocessor.
• Syntax is familiar to C, C++, C#, Java etc programmers.
• Supports the functional programming paradigm better than other C-like languages, with features such as closures, delegates, transitive immutability, higher order functions, anonymous functions, and the ability to write compiler enforced pure functions.
• Supports the template metaprogramming thing, which C++ supports without really meaning to, in a way that's actually sane to use.
• DMD builds code incredibly fast, making compile-edit-run cycles comparable to dynamic languages. Build automation tools like make, etc. can be used in the same way as they are used in C/C++ projects.
• Knowledgeable, helpful community (including the D.learn forum for asking questions).
• Unicode native - call the ☃.melt() function, or instantiate a 💡!T; the basic string type is UTF-8.
• A package registry (http://code.dlang.org/)

Disadvantages

• There aren't as many libraries available if you want pure D implementations.
• The language is mostly stable, but still has breaking changes on rare occasions (although these are preceded by deprecation warnings)
• Documentation sometimes abstruse or lacking examples; paucity of beginner learning resources.

Compilers/Tooling

• DMD (reference compiler; bleeding edge feature support) - http://dlang.org/download.html
• GDC (GCC backend; strong optimization; targets the most platforms, but generally a bit behind) - http://gdcproject.org/
• LDC (LLVM backend; also strong optimizations, targets almost as many platforms as GDC but generally implements a bit newer version of the language) - http://wiki.dlang.org/LDC
• Dub (Package manager and build tool) - http://code.dlang.org/download
• IDEs and IDE plugins - http://wiki.dlang.org/IDEs
• Editor support - http://wiki.dlang.org/Editors
• Other stuff (debugging, profiling, fixup, etc.) - http://wiki.dlang.org/Development_tools

Roguelike Libraries

• Bindings for libtcod - https://github.com/jaydg/libtcod-d
• Interface to Ncurses - https://github.com/D-Programming-Deimos/ncurses
• Bindings to BearLibTerminal - https://github.com/Elronnd/bearlibterminal-dlang
• Adam Ruppe's arsd collection (simpledisplay, terminal, eventloop, database, script, etc.) - https://github.com/adamdruppe/arsd
• Terminal ANSI colour lib - http://code.dlang.org/packages/rainbow
• Parser for Tiled maps - http://code.dlang.org/packages/dtiled
• ArmageddonEngine, D library for games, network applications etc. (lots of utility code) - https://github.com/CyberShadow/ae
• scone - cross-platform terminal application library - http://code.dlang.org/packages/scone
• Necklace of the Eye includes sample in D.

D Roguelikes

• 7DRL Infection
• αlpha Arcan Myth RL
• αlpha Tetraworld

Links

• Official Site
• IRC channel
• wiki
• DUB registry