---
title: "Getting Started"
description: "Install ƿit and write your first program"
---

## Prerequisites

- A C compiler (gcc or clang)
- [Meson](https://mesonbuild.com/) build system
- Git

## Installation

```bash
# Clone the repository
git clone https://gitea.pockle.world/john/cell
cd cell

# Bootstrap the build
make bootstrap
```

This compiles the ƿit runtime and installs the `pit` binary. The ƿit shop is created at `~/.pit/`.

Verify your installation:

```bash
pit version
```

## Hello World

Create a file called `hello.ce`:

```javascript
// hello.ce
print("Hello, ƿit!")
$stop()
```

Run it:

```bash
pit hello
```

You should see `Hello, ƿit!` printed to the console.

Every `.ce` file is an **actor** — an independent unit of execution. The `$stop()` call tells the actor to shut down when it's done.

## A Counting Actor

Actors can schedule work over time. Create `counter.ce`:

```javascript
// counter.ce
var count = 0

$clock(function(dt) {
  count = count + 1
  print(`tick ${count}`)
  if (count >= 5) {
    $stop()
  }
})
```

```bash
pit counter
```

The `$clock` intrinsic calls your function every tick. The actor runs until you stop it.

## Two Actors Talking

The power of ƿit is in actors communicating through messages. Create two files:

```javascript
// greeter.ce
$receiver(function(msg, reply) {
  reply({greeting: `Hello, ${msg.name}!`})
})
```

```javascript
// main.ce
$start(function(greeter) {
  $send(greeter, {name: "world"}, function(response) {
    print(response.greeting)
    $stop()
  })
}, "greeter")
```

```bash
pit main
```

`$start` launches a new actor. `$send` sends a message and provides a callback for the reply. Messages are automatically serialized — actors never share memory.

## Using Modules

Modules (`.cm` files) return a value that is cached and frozen. Create a module:

```javascript
// math_helpers.cm
var square = function(x) {
  return x * x
}

var distance = function(x1, y1, x2, y2) {
  var math = use('math/radians')
  var dx = x2 - x1
  var dy = y2 - y1
  return math.sqrt(dx * dx + dy * dy)
}

return {
  square: square,
  distance: distance
}
```

Use it from an actor:

```javascript
// calc.ce
var helpers = use('math_helpers')

print(helpers.square(5))          // 25
print(helpers.distance(0, 0, 3, 4))  // 5

$stop()
```

## Creating a Package

To share code or manage dependencies, create a `pit.toml`:

```toml
package = "myproject"
version = "0.1.0"

[dependencies]
```

Your package can now use `pit build`, `pit test`, and install dependencies.

## What's Next

- [**Language Manual**](/manual/) — full syntax reference, actors, packages, standard library
- [**CLI Reference**](/cli/) — all `pit` commands
- [**Language Spec**](/spec/) — internals for implementers