TL;DR
The Zig project has made significant progress on its new ELF linker, enabling fast incremental rebuilds on Linux. It can now build the self-hosted Zig compiler with LLVM and LLD, though DWARF debug info support is still in development. This update improves development speed but remains in testing.
The Zig development team announced that its new ELF linker now supports building the compiler with LLVM and LLD on x86_64 Linux, enabling fast incremental rebuilds. This marks a significant milestone in improving build performance, though full debug info support remains in progress.
Matthew Lugg, a Zig contributor, detailed recent improvements to the ELF linker introduced in Zig 0.16.0. The updated linker now successfully builds the self-hosted Zig compiler with LLVM and LLD, a task requiring multiple features under the hood. This capability demonstrates the linker’s enhanced robustness and versatility.
Most notably, the new ELF linker now supports fast incremental compilation on x86_64 Linux. Developers can perform rapid rebuilds of projects, including external libraries and C sources, without performance penalties. Lugg provided examples showing rebuild times dropping to as low as 228 milliseconds for the Zig compiler itself, a significant speedup for development workflows.
However, the feature set is not yet complete. The current implementation does not generate DWARF debug information for Zig code, which remains a priority for future updates. Despite this, the current capabilities are already useful for debugging and iterative development, especially when frequent rebuilds are necessary.
Why It Matters
This development is important because it directly impacts developer productivity. Faster rebuilds mean quicker testing, debugging, and iteration, which can accelerate project development and reduce frustration. The progress also indicates a maturing build system within Zig, capable of supporting larger and more complex projects efficiently.
While the feature is currently limited to Linux x86_64, the team’s ongoing work suggests broader platform support and further enhancements, potentially influencing Zig’s competitiveness with other systems programming languages.
Linux x86_64 ELF linker tools
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Background
Since its initial ELF linker implementation in Zig 0.16.0, the feature was limited to linking Zig-only code without external libraries, and was disabled by default. The recent updates mark a shift towards more capable and performant linking, aligning with Zig’s goals for faster compile times and better development ergonomics.
Prior to this, build system improvements announced on May 26, 2026, focused on separating build phases and caching, which already contributed to faster build times. The current ELF linker enhancements build on this momentum, emphasizing incremental compilation and build speed.
“The new ELF linker can now build the self-hosted Zig compiler with LLVM and LLD enabled, and supports fast incremental compilation on x86_64 Linux.”
— Matthew Lugg
“Even without DWARF support, the instant rebuilds are already very useful for debugging and iterative development.”
— Matthew Lugg
incremental compilation software for developers
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What Remains Unclear
It is not yet clear when full DWARF debug information support will be implemented in the ELF linker. Additionally, platform support beyond Linux x86_64 has not been detailed, and potential bugs or performance issues in real-world projects remain to be seen.
debugging tools for Zig programming language
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What’s Next
The Zig team plans to prioritize adding DWARF debug info support to the ELF linker. They will also continue testing on various platforms and gather user feedback to refine the feature. Developers are encouraged to try the current build and report issues.
LLVM LLD linker for Linux
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Key Questions
What is the main benefit of the new ELF linker?
It enables fast incremental rebuilds, significantly reducing compile times during development on Linux x86_64.
Does the new linker support debug information?
No, support for generating DWARF debug info is still in progress and will be added in future updates.
Can I try this feature now?
Yes, if you are using the master branch of Zig on x86_64 Linux, you can enable the new linker and incremental compilation features. However, be aware that it is still experimental.
Will this work on other platforms?
The current implementation is limited to Linux x86_64. Support for other platforms has not yet been announced.
Source: Hacker News
