October 31, 2025
Echo vs Print, Rust vs Zig: bring popcorn
Nim 2.2.6
Nim 2.2.6 lands: fans say “Python-easy, C-fast” while Rust vs Zig debates ignite
TLDR: Nim 2.2.6 delivers a steadier, slightly faster experience with many bug fixes and sturdier background-task error handling. Comments split between praise for “Python-easy, C-fast” vibes, syntax debates (`proc` vs `def`, `echo` vs `print`), Rust/Zig comparisons, and a tease of Nim 3.0—making this upgrade hard to ignore.
Nim just dropped version 2.2.6, a stability-focused update with 141 commits, smoother error handling in background tasks, and tiny speed boosts thanks to smarter “move, don’t copy” behavior. But the real show is the comment section. One camp is throwing confetti: “memory safe, Python vibes, compiles to C/C++/JS” and yes, one fan even declared Nim more mature than Zig and easier than Rust. Another goes full love letter, calling it “speed of C, simplicity of Python” and praising the compiler like it’s a miracle worker.
Cue the drama: a Python veteran wants Nim to go all-in on the aesthetic—def instead of proc, print instead of echo—sparking the silliest skirmish of the thread: the echo vs print feud. Meanwhile, the age-old debate over garbage collection (automatic memory cleanup) resurfaces, and someone drops the official docs like a mic: memory management. Then a curveball: Nimony—a teaser for Nim 3.0—slides in via this page, turning the chat into “upgrade now or wait for the sequel?” energy.
Fans say just update with the usual tool and enjoy the smoother ride. The vibe is peak developer soap opera: cheers for stability and speed, nitpicks over syntax feels, and a Rust/Zig vs Nim cage match for dessert. Pass the popcorn.
Key Points
- •Nim 2.2.6 is the third patch release for the stable 2.2 series, delivered six months after 2.2.4 with 141 commits.
- •Exception handling with Nim’s async is more stable due to a rewritten closure iterator transformation.
- •The compiler now generates a move for return obj.field instead of a copy, yielding minor performance gains.
- •Installation options include OS package managers, choosenim (recommended v0.8.16), and nightly builds.
- •Extensive bugfixes address JS/C/C++ backends, GC cycle collection, closure iterator issues, asyncnet SSL leak, type handling, and performance regressions.