Why import a C library into Zig?
Updated 28 February.
Importing a C library into Zig lets you reuse existing code while writing the rest of your program in Zig. You do not have to rewrite a library to use it.
The language and the toolchain
Zig is a programming language, but its compiler and build system can also build C and C++ projects. Your application can stay in C or C++, with Zig used only for the build file. Or you can write the whole application in Zig.
Mixing Zig and C
Zig can import C headers and link against C libraries. That lets you add Zig to an existing project gradually.
Using Zig's toolchain does not automatically make C code safe. Compiler diagnostics can help find problems, but the code still needs testing and review.
Cross-compilation
One Zig installation can target multiple operating systems and CPU architectures, including Linux, macOS, Windows, ARM64, and x86-64. This reduces the work of setting up separate toolchains for supported targets.
Writing new code in Zig
Zig makes control flow and memory allocation explicit. That can make code easier to inspect and optimize.
Its build modes let you choose optimization and runtime safety checks. You can also control checks within individual scopes, including checks for integer overflow.
Zig's overview explains these features in more detail.