5.2.8. C Integration: Serialization

This tutorial demonstrates how to serialize a compiled daslang program to a binary blob and deserialize it back, skipping recompilation on subsequent runs.

The workflow:

Compile a program normally with das_program_compile
Simulate it at least once (resolves function pointers)
Serialize to an in-memory buffer
Release the original program
Deserialize from the buffer — no parsing, no type inference
Simulate and run as usual

This is useful for faster startup, distributing pre-compiled scripts, and caching compiled programs in editors or build pipelines.

5.2.8.1. Serialization API

Three functions make up the serialization API:

Function	Purpose
`das_program_serialize(prog, &data, &size)`	Serialize to binary; returns opaque handle
`das_program_deserialize(data, size)`	Deserialize from raw bytes; returns program
`das_serialized_data_release(blob)`	Free the serialization buffer

5.2.8.2. Serializing

const void * blob_data = NULL;
int64_t blob_size = 0;
das_serialized_data * blob = das_program_serialize(program, &blob_data, &blob_size);

printf("Serialized size: %lld bytes\n", (long long)blob_size);

// Save blob_data/blob_size to file for persistent caching if desired.

The program must have been simulated at least once before serialization.

5.2.8.3. Deserializing

das_program * restored = das_program_deserialize(blob_data, blob_size);

// The blob can be released after deserialization — the program is independent.
das_serialized_data_release(blob);

// Simulate and run as usual
das_context * ctx = das_context_make(das_program_context_stack_size(restored));
das_program_simulate(restored, ctx, tout);

das_function * fn = das_context_find_function(ctx, "test");
das_context_eval_with_catch(ctx, fn, NULL);

5.2.8.4. Build & run

Build:

cmake --build build --config Release --target integration_c_08

Run:

bin/Release/integration_c_08

Expected output:

=== Stage 1: Compile from source ===
  Compiled successfully.
  Simulated successfully.

=== Stage 2: Serialize ===
  Serialized size: 5022 bytes
  Original program released.

=== Stage 3: Deserialize ===
  Deserialized successfully.

=== Stage 4: Simulate and run ===
=== Serialization Tutorial ===
Hello, World!
sum_to(10)  = 55
sum_to(100) = 5050