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A Compiler Writing Journey

131 points by ibobev ago | 15 comments

parallax_error |next [-]

Very cool! I can’t imagine writing everything in C, I’m currently learning this in OCaml which seems nicer for a project like this.

MisterTea |root |parent |next [-]

> I can’t imagine writing everything in C

I will say that C is a perfect low level language for bootstrapping more complex systems and languages. If I were building a bootstrap compiler I would write it in C and have it emit C. Specifically C89/99 ONLY with no POSIX/GNU deps. that will guarantee a large swath of compiler and system support out of the box.

|root |parent [-]

anta40 |root |parent |next |previous [-]

Perhaps using this: https://github.com/nlsandler/nqcc2

?

nurettin |root |parent |previous [-]

Wow that's super nostalgic. You're on a great path! After doing something similar, I switched to Haskell. Give it a go if you have the time.

pjmlp |next |previous [-]

Having it all in C brings back memories from "Compiler Design in C" a famous book for its time, printed in 1990.

https://holub.com/compiler/

nils-m-holm |root |parent [-]

I wrote a book in its spirit in 2012 with a second edition in 2022: http://t3x.org/reload/

It is called Practical Compiler Construction. The Compiler Writing Journey is based on it.

kreco |root |parent [-]

Thanks for your amazing work!

mzs |next |previous [-]

"Part 64: Self-compilation on an 8-bit CPU"

Unlike how a bunch of projects end right as they start to get good, this has a great ending. Thank you

cxr |next |previous [-]

(2020)

Previously:

12 comments; 156 points. 2022 November 29. <https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33788013>

67 comments; 484 points. 2020 January 8. <https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21968420>

skyfantom |next |previous [-]

This hopefully can be useful as well https://space4links.com/r/writing-a-compiler

Muhammad523 |next |previous [-]

I feel like interpreters and compilers were trendy in 2015/2016, bu i'm too young to know. Am i right?

maniacsudip |next |previous [-]

[dead]

brcmthrowaway |previous [-]

How much of Claude was used?

Muhammad523 |root |parent |next [-]

Why must there always be a random guy on HN randomly mentioning Claude?

azhenley |root |parent |previous [-]

It was started 7 years ago.