Learn ZIG with Real Code Examples
Updated Nov 21, 2025
Practical Examples
Writing a custom memory allocator
Creating a cross-platform CLI tool
Interfacing with a C library
Developing a small embedded firmware
Implementing a high-performance networking server
Troubleshooting
Check pointer usage and memory safety
Handle error unions properly
Ensure comptime code compiles correctly
Verify cross-compilation targets
Inspect build.zig configuration
Testing Guide
Write test functions using `test` keyword
Use `zig test` to execute unit tests
Test pointer and memory safety
Validate cross-platform builds
Use compile-time checks for constants
Deployment Options
Static binaries with no runtime dependencies
Cross-compiled executables for target platforms
Embedded firmware deployment
Dynamic library for C interop
Containerized command-line tools
Tools Ecosystem
Zig compiler (LLVM backend)
zig build system
zig test for unit testing
zig fmt for formatting
C interop tooling
Integrations
C libraries and headers
Cross-compilation for ARM, x86, WASM
Embedded toolchains for microcontrollers
Integration with build systems (Make, CMake)
Foreign function interface (FFI) for Rust/C++
Productivity Tips
Use `zig fmt` for consistent formatting
Leverage `comptime` for compile-time checks
Test code frequently with `zig test`
Cross-compile regularly to verify targets
Document error unions and memory usage
Challenges
Write a memory-safe allocator
Create a cross-platform CLI tool
Build a simple embedded application
Integrate a C library with Zig
Optimize a low-level networking function