A Compiler Writing Journey

 (github.com)

128 points | by ibobev 1 day ago

9 comments

  • parallax_error 1 day ago
    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.
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    • MisterTea 16 hours ago
      > 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.

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    • anta40 23 hours ago
      Perhaps using this: https://github.com/nlsandler/nqcc2

      ?

    • nurettin 1 day ago
      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 1 day ago
    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/

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    • nils-m-holm 23 hours ago
      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.

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      • kreco 21 hours ago
        Thanks for your amazing work!
  • mzs 18 hours ago
    "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 17 hours ago
    (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 19 hours ago
    This hopefully can be useful as well https://space4links.com/r/writing-a-compiler
  • Muhammad523 18 hours ago
    I feel like interpreters and compilers were trendy in 2015/2016, bu i'm too young to know. Am i right?
  • maniacsudip 1 day ago
    [dead]
  • maltyxxx 21 hours ago
    [flagged]
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  • brcmthrowaway 1 day ago
    How much of Claude was used?
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    • Muhammad523 18 hours ago
      Why must there always be a random guy on HN randomly mentioning Claude?
    • azhenley 1 day ago
      It was started 7 years ago.