Raven language features

This section explains the Raven features you will use in everyday programs. Each guide starts with the problem a feature solves, shows its usual form, and points out the choice the feature communicates in your code.

You do not need to learn every feature before building something. Start with values and functions, then follow the topic that matches the code you want to write.

Start with the essentials

• Values, functions, and control flow introduces let, var, functions, expressions, and loops.
• Model data with records, unions, and classes explains how to choose a type from the meaning of the data.
• Make decisions with patterns shows how match interprets closed states and extracts their data.
• Handle absence and failure introduces Option, Result, and ? propagation.

Work with the .NET platform

• Use .NET libraries covers imports, framework types, packages, and Raven/.NET boundaries.
• Write asynchronous code covers async, await, tasks, async streams, and cancellation.
• Transform code with macros introduces explicit compile-time transformations and when to choose them.

These guides intentionally describe the useful center of each feature rather than every compiler rule or edge case. Follow a topic into the language reference when you need its complete syntax and behavior. Complete applications are available in the workload guides.