Vala project setup using Zig Build System I'm going to add Zig module later, for CRDT / Web feature. I tried Meson to see it's smoothly integrate with Zig Build System but its DX is horrible so I gave up, even though build succeeds. Also GNOME Builder's output is so bloated and generated files' quality was unknown-npm-package level. This approach will require a lot of research and deep knowledge, but it's way better than "managing" obscure files I have no idea of.

Changes

12 changed files (+599/-1)

• .editorconfig
  • @@ -22,3 +22,8 @@ [*.nix]
    # Nix can't handle tab character inside string interpolation. indent_style = space indent_size = 2 + + [*.{zig,zon}] + # Zig can't handle tab character. + indent_style = space + indent_size = 4
• .gitignore (new)
  • @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
    + # Copyright 2025 Shota FUJI + # + # This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public + # License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this + # file, You can obtain one at https://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/. + # + # SPDX-License-Identifier: MPL-2.0 + + # Zig build system writes cache and build output to these directories. + .zig-cache + zig-out + + # Nix writes build output to this too generic named directory. + result
• build.zig (new)
  • @@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
    + // Copyright 2025 Shota FUJI + // + // This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public + // License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this + // file, You can obtain one at https://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/. + // + // SPDX-License-Identifier: MPL-2.0 + + const std = @import("std"); + + const CompileVala = @import("./build/CompileVala.zig"); + const manifest = @import("./build.zig.zon"); + + const app_name = "jp.pocka.timetracker"; + + pub fn build(b: *std.Build) !void { + const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{}); + const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{}); + + const version = b.option( + []const u8, + "version", + "Application version. Defaults to `version` field in \"build.zig.zon\".", + ) orelse manifest.version; + + const app_id = b.option( + []const u8, + "app-id", + b.fmt("Application ID. Defaults to \"{s}\"", .{app_name}), + ) orelse app_name; + + // System libraries to link. + const system_libraries = [_][]const u8{ + "glib-2.0", + "gtk4", + "libadwaita-1", + }; + + const vala_main = vala_main: { + var compile = try CompileVala.init(b, .{ + .src = b.path("src"), + .includeTestFiles = false, + }); + + for (system_libraries) |lib| { + compile.addPackage(lib); + } + + compile.addPackage("posix"); + compile.addPackage("Config"); + + compile.addVapi(b.path("src/Config.vapi")); + + const step = b.step("valac", "Compile C source code from Vala files for debugging purpose"); + step.dependOn(compile.step); + + break :vala_main compile; + }; + + const exe = exe: { + const exe = b.addExecutable(.{ + .name = app_name, + .root_module = b.createModule(.{ + .link_libc = true, + .target = target, + .optimize = optimize, + }), + }); + + exe.root_module.addCMacro("APP_VERSION", b.fmt("\"{s}\"", .{version})); + exe.root_module.addCMacro("APP_ID", b.fmt("\"{s}\"", .{app_id})); + + for (system_libraries) |lib| { + exe.linkSystemLibrary(lib); + } + + for (vala_main.compiled_c_files) |file| { + exe.addCSourceFile(.{ .file = file }); + } + + break :exe exe; + }; + + // Default install step + { + b.installArtifact(exe); + } + }
• build.zig.zon (new)
  • @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
    + // Copyright 2025 Shota FUJI + // + // This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public + // License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this + // file, You can obtain one at https://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/. + // + // SPDX-License-Identifier: MPL-2.0 + + .{ + .name = .timetracker, + .version = "0.0.0-dev", + .fingerprint = 0xca682daa20529a8, + .minimum_zig_version = "0.15.0", + .dependencies = .{}, + .paths = .{ + "build/", + "build.zig", + "build.zig.zon", + "src/", + }, + }
• build/CompileVala.zig (new)
  • @@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
    + // Copyright 2025 Shota FUJI + // + // This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public + // License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this + // file, You can obtain one at https://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/. + // + // SPDX-License-Identifier: MPL-2.0 + + const CompileVala = @This(); + + const std = @import("std"); + + step: *std.Build.Step, + compiled_c_directory: std.Build.LazyPath, + compiled_c_files: []std.Build.LazyPath, + + valac: *std.Build.Step.Run, + + pub const Options = struct { + /// This must be an existing path. + src: std.Build.LazyPath, + + includeTestFiles: bool = false, + suppressDeprecationWarning: bool = false, + }; + + pub fn init(b: *std.Build, opts: Options) !CompileVala { + const valac = b.addSystemCommand(&.{"valac"}); + + // Vala source codes to compile. + const vala_sources: [][]const u8 = vala_sources: { + var list: std.ArrayList([]const u8) = .empty; + + var dir = try opts.src.getPath3(b, &valac.step).openDir("", .{ .iterate = true }); + defer dir.close(); + + var walker = try dir.walk(b.allocator); + defer walker.deinit(); + + while (try walker.next()) |entry| { + const ext = std.fs.path.extension(entry.basename); + if (std.mem.eql(u8, ".vala", ext)) { + if (!opts.includeTestFiles and std.mem.endsWith(u8, entry.basename, ".test.vala")) { + continue; + } + + try list.append(b.allocator, b.dupe(entry.path)); + } + } + + break :vala_sources try list.toOwnedSlice(b.allocator); + }; + + // Tell Vala compiler to emit C rather than compile using system C compiler. + valac.addArg("--ccode"); + + if (opts.suppressDeprecationWarning) { + valac.addArg("--enable-deprecated"); + } + + // Tell Vala to emit C source files under the output directory. + // The directory usually is Zig cache directory (like ".zig-cache/o/xxx"). + // For example, when there is "src/Foo.vala", this step produces + // ".zig-cache/o/hash-or-something-idk/vala/Foo.c" + valac.addArg("--directory"); + const dir = valac.addOutputDirectoryArg("vala"); + + // Let valac emit C source code without prefixing using directory. + valac.addArg("--basedir"); + valac.addDirectoryArg(opts.src); + + // Vala compiler takes a list of Vala source files, then process them all. + for (vala_sources) |src| { + valac.addFileArg(try opts.src.join(b.allocator, src)); + } + + const t = b.addInstallDirectory(.{ + .source_dir = dir, + .install_dir = .{ .custom = "src" }, + .install_subdir = "", + }); + + const compiled_c_files = try b.allocator.alloc(std.Build.LazyPath, vala_sources.len); + for (vala_sources, 0..) |src, i| { + // Looks fragile but it works. Even if it produced incorrect paths, + // filesystem and Zig compiler will tell us a file is missing. + const rel_path = b.fmt("{s}.c", .{src[0..(src.len - 5)]}); + + // src = "src/Foo.vala" + // rel_path = "Foo.c" + // file = "(step cache directory)/vala/Foo.c" + compiled_c_files[i] = try dir.join(b.allocator, rel_path); + } + + return .{ + .step = &t.step, + .compiled_c_directory = dir, + .compiled_c_files = compiled_c_files, + .valac = valac, + }; + } + + pub fn addPackage(self: *CompileVala, pkg: []const u8) void { + self.valac.addArg("--pkg"); + self.valac.addArg(pkg); + } + + pub fn addPackages(self: *CompileVala, pkgs: []const []const u8) void { + for (pkgs) |pkg| { + self.addPackage(pkg); + } + } + + pub fn addVapi(self: *CompileVala, file: std.Build.LazyPath) void { + self.valac.addArg("--vapidir"); + self.valac.addDirectoryArg(file.dirname()); + self.valac.addFileInput(file); + } + + pub fn addGResourceXML(self: *CompileVala, path: std.Build.LazyPath) void { + self.valac.addArg("--gresources"); + self.valac.addFileArg(path); + } + + pub fn getCompiledCDirectory(self: CompileVala) std.Build.LazyPath { + return self.compiled_c_directory; + } + + pub fn getCompiledCFiles(self: CompileVala) []std.Build.LazyPath { + return self.compiled_c_files; + }
• default.nix (new)
  • @@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
    + # Copyright 2025 Shota FUJI + # + # This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public + # License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this + # file, You can obtain one at https://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/. + # + # SPDX-License-Identifier: MPL-2.0 + + { + lib, + stdenvNoCC, + zig, + vala, + pkg-config, + wrapGAppsHook4, + glib, + gtk4, + libadwaita, + }: + stdenvNoCC.mkDerivation { + pname = "timetracker"; + version = "0.0.0-dev"; + + src = + with lib.filset; + toSource { + root = ./.; + fileset = unions [ + ./src + ./build + ./build.zig + ./build.zig.zon + ]; + }; + + meta = { + mainProgram = "jp.pocka.timetracker"; + }; + + nativeBuildInputs = [ + zig.hook + + # > Zig is a general-purpose programming language and toolchain for maintaining + # > robust, optimal and reusable software. + # https://ziglang.org/ + zig + + # > pkg-config is a helper tool used when compiling applications and libraries. + # https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/pkg-config/ + pkg-config + + # > Vala is a programming language using modern high level abstractions without + # > imposing additional runtime requirements and without using a different ABI + # > compared to applications and libraries written in C. + # https://vala.dev/ + vala + + # This helper takes care of GLib/GTK's messy runtime things. + # https://nixos.org/manual/nixpkgs/stable/#sec-language-gnome + wrapGAppsHook4 + ]; + + buildInputs = [ + # > C library of programming buildings blocks + # https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/glib + glib + + # > The GTK toolkit + # https://docs.gtk.org/gtk4/ + gtk4 + + # Provides styles and widgets following GNOME Human Interface Guideline. + # (https://developer.gnome.org/hig/index.html) + # > Building blocks for modern GNOME applications + # https://gnome.pages.gitlab.gnome.org/libadwaita/ + # https://gnome.pages.gitlab.gnome.org/libadwaita/doc/1-latest/ + # https://valadoc.org/libadwaita-1/index.htm + libadwaita + ]; + }
• dprint.jsonc
  • @@ -18,6 +18,19 @@ "exec": {
    "cwd": "${configDir}", "commands": [ { + "exts": ["zig"], + "command": "zig fmt --stdin", + }, + { + "exts": ["zon"], + "command": "zig fmt --zon --stdin", + }, + { + "exts": ["vala"], + "command": "uncrustify -c uncrustify.cfg -l VALA", + "cacheKeyFiles": ["uncrustify.cfg"], + }, + { "exts": ["nix"], "command": "nixfmt --strict --width={{line_width}} --indent={{indent_width}}", },
• flake.nix
  • @@ -33,12 +33,28 @@ pkgs = nixpkgs.legacyPackages.${system};
    } ); in - { + rec { + packages = forEachSystems ( + { pkgs, ... }: + { + default = pkgs.callPackage ./default.nix { }; + } + ); + devShells = forEachSystems ( { pkgs, system }: { default = pkgs.mkShell { + buildInputs = [ + (pkgs.lib.lists.remove pkgs.zig.hook packages.${system}.default.nativeBuildInputs) + packages.${system}.default.buildInputs + ]; + packages = with pkgs; [ + # > Zig LSP implementation + Zig Language Server + # https://github.com/zigtools/zls + zls + # > Tool for compliance with the REUSE Initiative recommendations # https://github.com/fsfe/reuse-tool # https://reuse.software/
  • @@ -47,6 +63,10 @@
    # > Code formatting platform written in Rust # https://dprint.dev/ dprint + + # > Source Code Beautifier for C, C++, C#, ObjectiveC, D, Java, Pawn and VALA + # https://uncrustify.sourceforge.net/ + uncrustify # > Official formatter for Nix code # https://github.com/NixOS/nixfmt
• src/Application.vala (new)
  • @@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
    + // Copyright 2025 Shota FUJI + // + // This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public + // License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this + // file, You can obtain one at https://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/. + // + // SPDX-License-Identifier: MPL-2.0 + + namespace TimeTracker { + public class Application : Adw.Application { + public Application() { + Object(application_id: Config.APP_ID); + } + + protected override void activate() { + var window = new Gtk.ApplicationWindow(this) { + title = "Sample" + }; + + window.present(); + } + } + }
• src/Config.vapi (new)
  • @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
    + // Copyright 2025 Shota FUJI + // + // This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public + // License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this + // file, You can obtain one at https://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/. + // + // SPDX-License-Identifier: MPL-2.0 + + namespace Config { + [CCode (cname = "APP_ID")] + public const string APP_ID; + + [CCode (cname = "APP_VERSION")] + public const string APP_VERSION; + }
• src/main.vala (new)
  • @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
    + // Copyright 2025 Shota FUJI + // + // This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public + // License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this + // file, You can obtain one at https://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/. + // + // SPDX-License-Identifier: MPL-2.0 + + static int main(string[] args) { + var app = new TimeTracker.Application(); + + return app.run(args); + }
• uncrustify.cfg (new)
  • @@ -0,0 +1,175 @@
    + # Configurations for Uncrustify, code formatter tool. + # This file is based on: + # https://codeberg.org/pocka/plac-for-gtk4/src/tag/v0.2.0/uncrustify.cfg + # + # Copyright 2025 Shota FUJI + # + # This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public + # License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this + # file, You can obtain one at https://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/. + # + # SPDX-License-Identifier: MPL-2.0 + + # The type of line endings. + newlines = lf + + # The size of tabs in the output (only used if align_with_tabs=true). + output_tab_size = 8 + + # Add or remove the UTF-8 BOM (recommend 'remove'). + utf8_bom = remove + + # If the file contains bytes with values between 128 and 255, but is not + # UTF-8, then output as UTF-8. + utf8_byte = true + + # Force the output encoding to UTF-8. + utf8_force = true + + # Add or remove space around non-assignment symbolic operators ('+', '/', '%', + # '<<', and so forth). + sp_arith = add + + # Add or remove space around assignment operator '=', '+=', etc. + sp_assign = add + + # Add or remove space around assignment operator '=' in a prototype. + # + # If set to ignore, use sp_assign. + sp_assign_default = add + + # Add or remove space before assignment operator '=', '+=', etc. + # + # Overrides sp_assign. + sp_before_assign = add + + # Add or remove space after assignment operator '=', '+=', etc. + # + # Overrides sp_assign. + sp_after_assign = add + + # Add or remove space around boolean operators '&&' and '||'. + sp_bool = add + + # Add or remove space around compare operator '<', '>', '==', etc. + sp_compare = add + + # Add or remove space inside '(' and ')'. + sp_inside_paren = remove + + # Add or remove space inside function '(' and ')'. + sp_inside_fparen = remove + + # Add or remove space between nested parentheses, i.e. '((' vs. ') )'. + sp_paren_paren = remove + + # Add or remove space between back-to-back parentheses, i.e. ')(' vs. ') ('. + sp_cparen_oparen = remove + + # Add or remove space between ')' and '{'. + sp_paren_brace = add + + # Add or remove space between nested braces, i.e. '{{' vs. '{ {'. + sp_brace_brace = remove + + # Add or remove space between '>' and '(' as found in 'new List<byte>(foo);'. + sp_angle_paren = remove + + # Add or remove space between '>' and '()' as found in 'new List<byte>();'. + sp_angle_paren_empty = remove + + # Add or remove space between '>' and a word as in 'List<byte> m;' or + # 'template <typename T> static ...'. + sp_angle_word = remove + + # Add or remove space before '(' of control statements ('if', 'for', 'switch', + # 'while', etc.). + sp_before_sparen = add + + # Add or remove space inside '(' and ')' of control statements other than + # 'for'. + sp_inside_sparen = remove + + # Add or remove space between ')' and '{' of control statements. + sp_sparen_brace = add + + # Add or remove space after ',', i.e. 'a,b' vs. 'a, b'. + sp_after_comma = add + + # Add or remove space between '>' and a word as in 'List<byte> m;' or + # 'template <typename T> static ...'. + sp_angle_word = add + + # (C#, Vala) Add or remove space between ',' and ']' in multidimensional array type + # like 'int[,,]'. + sp_after_mdatype_commas = remove + + # (C#, Vala) Add or remove space between '[' and ',' in multidimensional array type + # like 'int[,,]'. + sp_before_mdatype_commas = remove + + # (C#, Vala) Add or remove space between ',' in multidimensional array type + # like 'int[,,]'. + sp_between_mdatype_commas = remove + + # Add or remove space between a type and ':'. + sp_type_colon = add + + # Add or remove space inside struct/union '{' and '}'. + sp_inside_braces_struct = add + + # Add or remove space inside '{' and '}'. + sp_inside_braces = add + + # Add or remove space inside '{}'. + # if empty. + sp_inside_braces_empty = remove + + # Add or remove space between type and open brace of an unnamed temporary + # direct-list-initialization. + sp_type_brace_init_lst = add + + # Add or remove space between function name and '(' on function declaration. + sp_func_proto_paren = remove + + # Add or remove space between function name and '(' with a typedef specifier. + sp_func_type_paren = remove + + # Add or remove space between alias name and '(' of a non-pointer function type typedef. + sp_func_def_paren = remove + + # Add or remove space between ')' and '{' of a function call in object + # initialization. + # + # Overrides sp_fparen_brace. + sp_fparen_brace_initializer = add + + # Add or remove space between function name and '(' on function calls. + sp_func_call_paren = remove + + # Add or remove space between a constructor/destructor and the open + # parenthesis. + sp_func_class_paren = remove + + # Add or remove space between 'else' and '{' if on the same line. + sp_else_brace = force + + # Add or remove space between '}' and 'else' if on the same line. + sp_brace_else = force + + # Whether the 'class' body is indented. + indent_class = true + + # Whether to indent the body of a 'namespace'. + indent_namespace = true + + # How to indent a close parenthesis after a newline. + # + # 0: Indent to body level (default) + # 1: Align under the open parenthesis + # 2: Indent to the brace level + # -1: Preserve original indentation + indent_paren_close = 2 + + # Whether to remove blank lines before '}'. + eat_blanks_before_close_brace = true