Appendix B. Installing Nim
Before you begin writing Nim code, you need to install and set up the Nim compiler. The Nim compiler is the tool that will transform your Nim source code into a binary format that your computer can then execute. It’s only used during development, so users of your application won’t need it.
You have the option of installing Aporia, the Nim IDE, as well. Aporia is a useful tool for beginning Nim programmers: it allows you to compile and run Nim code easily, and it can also be used as a Nim-centric alternative to popular source-code editors such as gedit, Sublime Text, or Atom. Visual Studio Code is another editor that offers functionality similar to Aporia (through a plugin) and can be installed relatively easily.
In this appendix, you’ll learn how to install both the Nim compiler and an appropriate text editor. You’ll then test this Nim development environment by compiling and executing a Hello World example.
Let’s get started. Grab any computer—even a Raspberry Pi will work—and follow along![1]
1Seriously, though, please don’t use a Raspberry Pi for development.
It’s difficult to write installation instructions that will remain accurate for years to come.[2] This is especially true for a compiler that’s still evolving. In this appendix, I can’t provide a step-by-step installation guide for Nim, but I can discuss some potential troubleshooting steps and let you know where to look for installation instructions.