File API: First Edition — Simple, Powerful, Luma-style

We’re excited to announce the first official File API in Luma! It brings clean, readable, and expressive file handling — in a way that matches Luma’s philosophy of clarity, safety, and zero boilerplate.

Highlights

Safe Resource Handling with use

use handle = file.open("data.txt", "r") {
    print(handle.text())
}

• Auto-closes the file after the block

• Cleaner and safer than manual close()

Intuitive Reading & Writing

text: str = ""
use handle = file.open("notes.txt") {
    text = handle.text()
}

use handle = file.open("log.txt", "a") {
    handle.append("Line 1").append("Line 2")
}

• Text and bytes both supported

• Chaining with .append() is natural and expressive

File Info Made Easy

ext = file.ext("photo.jpg")      // "jpg"
size = handle.size()             // in bytes

• .ext() returns just the extension, no dot (user-friendly)

• .size() reports file size (no extra logic needed)

Memory Mapping Support

use mmap = file.mmap("big.bin", "r") {
    print(mmap[0..100])
}

• Efficient access for large files

• Read and write support

File Path Tools

path = file.join("dir", "data.txt")   // cross-platform
base = file.basename("/tmp/a.txt")    // "a.txt"

Future Ready

We’ve designed the File API with these goals in mind:

• Minimal syntax, maximum clarity

• Safe by default (use ensures auto-close)

• Ergonomic chaining where it makes sense

• Optional locking for concurrency safety

• Consistent method naming (snake_case, return bools, etc.)

What’s Next?

• .copy(), .move() planned

• file.exists(), file.delete()

• Directory operations

• File permissions and metadata

• Extended glob & filters

• File streaming?

Luma’s File API is not just about access — it’s about developer experience.
We hope you enjoy this new addition. Let us know your thoughts or proposals!

And don’t forget to check out the full documentation on https://luma.hashnode.space