Nim is a compiled programming language that pairs a readable, high-level syntax with low-level performance. The official site describes it as “a statically typed compiled systems programming language” that “combines successful concepts from mature languages like Python, Ada and Modula.” Its indentation-based, Python-influenced syntax makes it approachable while still being a true compiled language.
A notable design choice is its compilation strategy. Rather than emitting machine code directly, Nim “compiles to C, C++ or JavaScript so that Nim can be used for all backend and frontend needs.” By targeting these established backends, Nim can reach nearly any platform that has a C compiler and can also run in the browser by producing JavaScript.
The official site emphasizes efficiency, noting that Nim “generates native dependency-free executables” and that “zero-overhead iterators and compile-time evaluation of user-defined functions, in combination with the preference of value-based datatypes allocated on the stack, lead to extremely performant code.” The compiler and standard library are themselves implemented in Nim, making the language self-hosted.
Nim was not always called Nim. The project’s own blog records that it began under the name Nimrod, with early releases such as version 0.8.6 in December 2009, and that the official renaming from Nimrod to Nim was completed with the 0.10.2 release in December 2014.