# Elide Overview

> A memory-safe, high-performance runtime that runs JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Java, Kotlin and WebAssembly and builds and tests projects. Start here.

Backend services on managed runtimes are limited by memory, and DRAM prices have more than tripled since 2024. Elide is
designed around that: a memory-safe, high-performance runtime shipped as one binary that runs JavaScript, TypeScript,
Python, Java, Kotlin, and WebAssembly, and builds, tests, formats, and installs dependencies for your projects.

## Start here

1. [Install Elide](https://elide.help/docs/installation).
2. [Run your first program](https://elide.help/docs/getting-started).
3. Pick a language: [JavaScript and TypeScript](https://elide.help/docs/web), [Python](https://elide.help/docs/python),
   [Java and Kotlin](https://elide.help/docs/jvm), or [WebAssembly](https://elide.help/docs/wasm).

With `--interop`, languages share one process and pass values between them:

<img src="https://elide.help/assets/demos/repl.gif" alt="One REPL session — JavaScript values used from Python" width="1107" height="691" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="rounded-lg border border-border my-6 w-full" />

## Common commands

```bash
elide run app.ts                 # run a file
elide python script.py           # run Python with CPython-style arguments
elide repl                       # interactive REPL
elide init                       # start a new project from a template
elide adopt                      # migrate an existing project with an AI coding agent
elide install                    # install Maven dependencies
elide install --ecosystems=npm   # install npm dependencies
elide build                      # build the project
elide test                       # run tests
elide format -- src              # format Java and Kotlin sources
elide serve --no-tui ./dist      # serve a directory over HTTP
elide --help-all                 # every command and flag
elide help <topic>               # any page of these docs, in the terminal
```

## Explore further

- [Code Samples](https://elide.help/docs/code-samples)
- [Project setup](https://elide.help/docs/projects)
- [Adopt an Existing Project](https://elide.help/docs/toolchain/usage/adopt)
- [Languages and Interop](https://elide.help/docs/languages)
- [CLI Reference](https://elide.help/docs/cli-references)
- [Compatibility Matrix](https://elide.help/docs/compatibility)
- [API Overview](https://elide.help/docs/api-overview)
- [Agentic engineering](https://elide.help/docs/agentic-engineering)
- Coming from another runtime: [Node](https://elide.help/docs/elide-for-node), [Bun](https://elide.help/docs/elide-for-bun), [Deno](https://elide.help/docs/elide-for-deno),
  [Python](https://elide.help/docs/elide-for-python), [Java](https://elide.help/docs/elide-for-java), [Kotlin](https://elide.help/docs/elide-for-kotlin)