Guide · Open source
How to use hello-world: browse 1009 'Hello, World' examples
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The leachim6/hello-world repository is a reference collection that shows the same simple 'Hello, World' program written in many programming languages, from mainstream ones to experimental and joke languages. This guide explains how to find an entry, read it, get a local copy and add or fix an example. After reading it you will know how to use the collection to compare languages or to get a minimal starting point for a language you have not used.
Hello Worldleachim6/hello-world · ★ 12k · MIT Install options & downloads Quick start
- 1Open the repository. Go to github.com/leachim6/hello-world and read the README to see the list of 1009 languages.
- 2Find a language. Use your browser's search to locate the language you want in the Languages list.
- 3Read the example. Open the linked entry and read the single short 'Hello, World' program.
- 4Clone the repository. Run git clone https://github.com/leachim6/hello-world to keep a local copy of all examples.
- 5Check contributing.md. Before changing anything, read contributing.md in the repository for the contribution instructions.
What the hello-world collection contains
The README describes the project as 'Hello World in every computer language' and says it lists 1009 languages. Each language is linked to its own example program.
The collection is a set of examples, not a tool. Each entry is a single short program, so it does not teach a language in depth.
- Language list in the README, with each name linked to its example
- Mainstream languages alongside many experimental and esoteric ones
- Licensed under MIT and written mainly in Assembly according to the project page
Browse and read an example
Open the README on GitHub and scroll the Languages list, or use your browser's find function to search for a name such as Bash, C or Brainfuck. Select a link to open that language's example.
Each entry shows one minimal program. Read it to see how the language writes output, comments and program structure. Compare the same task across two or three entries to see how syntax differs.
- Use the browser search (Ctrl+F or Cmd+F) to locate a language quickly
- Open two entries side by side to compare them
- Treat each example as a starting point and check the language's own documentation for anything more
Get a local copy with git
If you want the whole collection on your computer, clone the repository with git. The project's install step in the README is a single clone command. The source does not list other prerequisites.
Once cloned, the files are on your disk and you can search them with any local tool.
git clone https://github.com/leachim6/hello-worldAdd or fix a language example
The README asks contributors to read contributing.md before making changes. Follow the instructions in that file for adding a new language or correcting an existing one.
Contributions are how the list grows. The README notes that new languages are added regularly.
- Read contributing.md first
- Keep each example to the same simple 'Hello, World' task used by the other entries
When to choose a different resource
If you need a full course, a structured tutorial or production code, this collection will not meet that need. Each entry is a single program and the project is not a library or installable software.
Comparable projects named on the project page are Rosetta Code and TheAlgorithms. Look at those if you want broader programming task collections.
- Need a full course: use a language's official tutorial or a structured course
- Need libraries or working software: this repository does not provide them
What people use it for
- Students comparing how different languages write the same simple output
- Developers getting a minimal example of an unfamiliar language
- Esoteric-language enthusiasts browsing unusual languages such as Brainfuck and Befunge
- Contributors adding or correcting a language example
Frequently asked questions
Is hello-world free to use?
The project is licensed under the MIT licence, as stated on its project page. You can read the examples and clone the repository without a listed cost.
What do I need to install to use hello-world?
The project page lists no prerequisites and an install method of read-online. The only command in the README is git clone, so you need git if you want a local copy.
How many languages does hello-world include?
The README says the collection lists 1009 languages, each linked to its own example program.
Can I use hello-world to learn a programming language?
It gives a minimal starting point, since each entry is one short program. It is not a full tutorial or course, so pair it with a language's official documentation.
How do I add a language to hello-world?
Read contributing.md in the repository, which the README links to for contribution instructions. Follow the steps there for adding or fixing an entry.
What are good alternatives to hello-world?
The project page names Rosetta Code and TheAlgorithms as comparable projects. They cover broader programming tasks rather than only the 'Hello, World' program.
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Our verdict
Use hello-world if you want to compare how many languages write the same simple program or to find a minimal example for a language you do not know. Pick a structured course, the language's official docs or a broader task collection such as Rosetta Code if you need depth, teaching or working code.
Install options & downloads