Learn Synod

A bottom-up tutorial: it starts with the smallest program that shows something and grows one idea at a time. Each chapter has a goal the current program cannot reach yet, introduces exactly the syntax that closes the gap, and starts from the code the previous chapter ended with. The format of a chapter is in implementation/11-documentation.md; coverage.md says which chapter teaches which form, type, context and std package.

You need the synod command (install). Every step is a complete program: type it, run it with synod run, watch, then change it.

Part I: One program, no nodes

1. Hello: show a sentence on the stage
2. Values: show a computed sentence
3. Time: show sentences at different moments, and ask the viewer

Part II: Nodes and messages

4. First node: put a node on the stage that counts
5. Messages: two nodes play ping-pong
6. Decisions: stop after ten rounds
7. Phrases: remove the repeated lines
8. Many nodes: broadcast to every peer and count replies
9. Chance: spread a rumour to random peers

Part III: When things go wrong

10. Faults: keep the rumour spreading through crashes and loss
11. Invariants: say what must never happen, then break it

Part IV: Seeing it

12. Looks: draw the system your way
13. Story: make the important moment stand out

Part V: Building real systems

14. Packages: build a service on top of the rumour package
15. Raft: build examples/raft from an empty folder

Guides

• Install the CLI
• Use the Mac app
• Write a look
• Publish a package
• Use Synod with Claude or another agent

After chapter 15, go on with the examples and the specification.