Quickstart

(Thanks to Karen Rustad for Cuddles!)

HOW TO GET HY REAL FAST:

1. Create a Virtual Python Environment.

2. Activate your Virtual Python Environment.

3. Install hy from GitHub with $ pip install git+https://github.com/hylang/hy.git.

4. Start a REPL with hy.

5. Type stuff in the REPL:

   => (print "Hy!")
   Hy!
   => (defn salutationsnm [name] (print (+ "Hy " name "!")))
   => (salutationsnm "YourName")
   Hy YourName!
   
   etc
   

6. Hit CTRL-D when you’re done.

7. If you’re familiar with Python, start the REPL using hy --spy to check what happens inside:

   => (+ "Hyllo " "World" "!")
   'Hyllo ' + 'World' + '!'
   
   'Hyllo World!'
   

OMG! That’s amazing! I want to write a Hy program.

8. Open up an elite programming editor and type:

   #! /usr/bin/env hy
   (print "I was going to code in Python syntax, but then I got Hy.")
   

9. Save as awesome.hy.

10. Make it executable:

    chmod +x awesome.hy
    

11. And run your first Hy program:

    ./awesome.hy
    

12. Take a deep breath so as to not hyperventilate.

13. Smile villainously and sneak off to your hydeaway and do unspeakable things.