The zenit manual

Build truly native macOS desktop UI in Zig. zenit folds windows, GPU rendering, text, input methods and accessibility into one clear UI model; this manual takes you from your first window to a maintainable production app.

const std = @import("std");
const ui = @import("ui");
const App = @import("zenit_app").App;

fn mountUi(cx: *ui.Cx, _: *ui.Scope) anyerror!*ui.Node {
    return ui.text(cx, "Hello, zenit!", .{
        .font_size = cx.tokens.font_size.xxxl,
        .color = cx.tokens.color.fg_primary,
    });
}

pub fn main() !void {
    var gpa = std.heap.GeneralPurposeAllocator(.{}){};
    defer _ = gpa.deinit();

    const app = try App.init(gpa.allocator(), .{
        .window = .{ .title = "Hello" },
    });
    defer app.deinit();
    try app.runWith(mountUi);
}

Learning path

Work through it once, in order (about 45 minutes), and you’ll have the whole mental model for building zenit apps on your own.

The architecture you use

Apps depend only on the stable public layer; zenit owns platform and rendering.

More than a set of APIs

These three run through the runtime, the text stack and the tooling. Each is backed by a runnable demo and real-window evidence.

Three principles

Follow them and your code stays clear while zenit is still moving fast.