ZELYRA
Questions worth
asking.
A short orientation for everyone who is discovering Zelyra, evaluating it for a project or starting the first example.
Start with
the context.
What is Zelyra?
Zelyra is a statically typed programming language focused on clear data models, business logic and web applications. Its goal is to make intent visible and catch mistakes early.
What is new in Zelyra 0.3?
Zelyra 0.3 includes reusable view layouts and named component slots, project-local bilingual UI language files, schema-drift planning with review gates, web-runtime Host allowlists, and the `zelyra update` CLI command. Its MariaDB compatibility workflow is tested against 10.11.19, 11.4.13, 11.8.9, and 12.3.3. These checks cover the documented workflows; they do not certify production readiness.
Can I install Zelyra packages or use `zpm`?
No. The published v0.3.0 release has no package registry, installable module catalogue, or `zpm` command. The module system and package distribution are roadmap work; see the Modules page and the v0.5.0 roadmap for their status.
Is Zelyra ready for production?
The project is in active development and follows a disciplined, evidence-based roadmap. Use version 0.3 for learning, experiments, and evaluation, and check the repository status before choosing it for critical production systems.
Does Zelyra replace Laravel?
No. They operate at different layers. Laravel is a mature PHP framework; Zelyra is an independent statically typed programming language and runtime project that unifies database schemas, forms, CRUD, and business logic into a single language construct.
| Aspect | Zelyra | Laravel |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | A language plus runtime and project tools. | A PHP framework plus a broad ecosystem. |
| Programming | You write Zelyra with its own syntax and types. | You write PHP and use Laravel conventions and APIs. |
| Data model | Schemas and types are a central part of the language approach. | Migrations, Eloquent models and validation are framework components. |
| Web layer | The Zelyra runtime provides its own route and web concepts. | Laravel provides routing, controllers, views, queues and much more for PHP. |
| Maturity | A young project in active development. | A mature and widely used production framework. |
How do I start on Windows?
Install Git for Windows and Docker Desktop, open PowerShell and execute `irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sf1976/zelyra/main/install.ps1 | iex`. Then run `zelyra doctor` to verify your environment.
Which database examples are available?
MariaDB is the primary tested runtime backend. SQLite is supported for documented and tested workflows, especially schema operations; that does not mean every runtime feature has database parity. Schema changes use explicit SQL and Zelyra database commands, not Laravel-style migration classes.
What should I learn first?
Start with the interactive learning path for values, functions, types, and tables. Then use the handbook as a reference and build the address-book CRUD example.
Start with the guided lessons or jump straight into the practical address-book example.
Open learning path →