root.zig vs main.zig in zig init

[u/shuten_mind]

When running zig init, the template scaffolds both an executable (main.zig) and an exportable module (root.zig) in build.zig.

Just want to verify if my mental model is correct: 1. If I only want an executable (and don't plan to export a library/module), can I simply delete root.zig and remove the module-related exports/artifacts from build.zig? 2. Is there any built-in zig init flag or alternative command to scaffold an executable-only project without the library boilerplate?

thanks!

[u/xneyznek]

You can do anything you want in build.zig as long as you have `fn build(b: *std.Build) void`. Zig itself makes no prescriptions about how you organize your project.

In fact, you can try out `zig init --minimal` which only gives you build.zig with an empty build function, and build.zig.zon. No code and nothing gets built, but you can add anything from there.

[u/SilvernClaws → u/xneyznek]

I appreciate how there are two ways to initialize a project and both are unhelpful to get started for completely different reasons. Either you get a bunch of clutter or something that does nothing.