What is a .d file?
D Source File · Code and data · Walter Bright / D Language Foundation · 2001
A .d file is D source code, a compiled systems language designed as a cleaner successor to C++. It combines native speed with garbage collection, modules and strong metaprogramming.
What is a .d file used for?
D was created by Walter Bright, author of the first native C++ compiler, to keep C++'s power while shedding its historical baggage: it adds modules, ranges, contracts and compile-time function execution.
One naming trap: build tools like Make also produce .d dependency files, which are small text lists, not D programs. A real D source file contains code with import statements and C-style braces.
How to open a .d file
The .d format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see how to open a .d file.
Windows
- VS Code (code-d)
- any text editor
macOS
- VS Code (code-d)
- any text editor
Linux
- VS Code (code-d)
- any text editor
How to convert a .d file
You can convert a .d file to exe (compiled) using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
.d file signature (magic bytes)
Programs recognise a .d file by the bytes at the start of the file, not by its name. These are the signatures for D.
| Hex signature | Offset | Note |
|---|---|---|
| (no fixed signature) | 0 | plain text; no fixed magic bytes |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .d file?
A .d file is D source code, a compiled systems language designed as a cleaner successor to C++. It combines native speed with garbage collection, modules and strong metaprogramming.
How do I run a .d file?
Install a D compiler (dmd, ldc or gdc) and run dmd -run file.d, or manage a project with dub, D's package and build tool.
Is every .d file a D program?
No. Compilers and Make generate .d dependency files, which are plain lists of file paths. If the content is code with imports and braces, it is D source.
How does D compare to C++?
D compiles to native code like C++ but adds garbage collection (optional), a module system and simpler metaprogramming, at the cost of a much smaller ecosystem.
Related formats
Sources
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