Try a snippet

The scratch command checks an entry fragment without creating a permanent project. Use aug scratch to try a short program, or aug init when you want to keep and extend it.

Save this entry fragment as experiment.aug:

value = 20 + 22
print(value=$"result: {value}")

Check it first:

aug scratch experiment.aug

The command reports Scratch check passed without printing the program's result. Add --json for the source digest, diagnostics, and separate checking and preparation statuses. Check diagnostics name experiment.aug and retain its original line numbers.

Run it when you want to execute the program:

aug scratch experiment.aug --run

It prints result: 42. Arguments after -- go to the program. The process runs in a temporary folder; use absolute paths for files outside it. Compilation, execution, and dependency preparation use the same rules as aug run. On ordinary completion or a reported failure, temporary source, locks, specs, and build output are removed. Your scratch file stays unchanged. Downloaded package and native caches remain available for later projects.

Try a package

A standalone scratch file can use standard-library imports and direct repository imports. This entry fragment uses the native zlib package:

import CompressionError and compress and decompress from "https://github.com/GreenPandaStudios/aug-zlib#v0.2.0"

try:
    input = "scratch zlib".bytes()
    compressed = compress(input)
    restored = decompress(input=compressed, maximumOutput=4096)
    print(value=restored.text())
catch CompressionError error:
    exit(status=1)
catch ConversionError error:
    exit(status=1)

Save it as compression.aug. Default checking does not download dependencies; a missing-import diagnostic points to --prepare. Prepare them explicitly to check the imported interfaces without executing the program:

aug scratch compression.aug --prepare
aug scratch compression.aug --run

The run prints scratch zlib. --run also prepares dependencies, so it can be used on its own. Installation verifies the normal source and native artifact contracts and does not run package build scripts. The native package's supported hosts still apply. --offline prevents dependency downloads; it does not prevent the program from using the network.

Grow it into a project

The fragment becomes a normal main.aug. It contains entry statements, imports, and bindings. Functions, records, classes, and same-file tests belong in neighboring modules, just as they do in a project. Scratch checking does not read neighboring files or inherit the parent's main.yaml and aliases.

When you need those files or a persistent dependency lock, create a project with aug init, move the fragment into its main.aug, and add ordinary modules beside it. Use values and functions for declarations and packages for aliases and locked dependencies.