Getting Started

Devlish lets you write programs using precise English-like statements. A program can calculate a value, check business rules, transform records, or request an external action. You save the source in a .dvl text file and run it with the Devlish application.

You do not need an AI model to run a normal calculation or validation program. Model calls and AI tool integrations are additional capabilities you can introduce after learning the basic workflow.

Choose a starting point

1. Installation sets up the command-line application.
2. Quick Start walks through inputs, calculations, and a returned result.
3. Your First Tool makes that kind of program callable by an AI application through MCP.

The examples assume basic familiarity with opening a terminal and saving a text file. You can explore the browser playground before installing anything; its sandbox supports computation but does not have arbitrary local file or network access.

What happens when you run a program?

devlish --run workflow.dvl reads the source, compiles it into instructions, and executes them. A separate compilation step is optional. Named inputs come from the caller or terminal, and the program returns or displays values according to its statements.

The application also offers devlish for an interactive model prompt and devlish --server for a foreground HTTP service. Begin with file execution in the Quick Start; those other modes serve different ways of interacting with the runtime.