Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

"but not replace it"

I've long proven you can on a per project basis for both system apps non-C languages and C apps with better, C variants.

"What will you write your bootstrapping compiler in? :-D."

Any language better than C for writing a compiler, esp Ocaml w/ design-by-contract, compiling to target assembler. Worked wonders for Esterel's SCADE. Optionally, any such language transpiling to any other HLL on target system, including C w/ safety checks & no undef behavior. Working wonders for COGENT language team. Or go Wirth-style with a better-than-C (esp Component Pascal) to P-code compiler plus P-code interpreter for target hand-written in assembly. Simple backend + interpreter got Pascal/P on 70 architectures. Any are easier than a whole compiler for complex language (or C) in C using a C compiler.

For doubters:

https://embed.cs.utah.edu/csmith/



Fair 'nuff on the compiler stuff. I was talking about replacing C globally, however, and that's not happening any more than we're replacing FORTRAN.


"I was talking about replacing C globally"

I gave up on that when I noticed the COBOL and Windows situations. ;)


Well, yeah, but that's what Zig seems to be trying to do. And as various tech comes up for replacement, it may one day be possible.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: