SINBV@NOBERGEN.BITNET ("Bjoern Asle VALDE +47 21 32 46", 5) (12/03/88)
>> Larry Campbell <redsox!campbell@WJH12.HARVARD.EDU> << needs manpower
to start implementing a Modula-3 compiler/translator, all done in the
spirit of GNU. Are you kidding ? People do not invest time and effort
for free, or do they ? If you are so nuts that you actually are serious,
then sign me on and I'll do my share ||
Anyone else ?
_Bav_ sinbv\nobergen or valde\rose.uib.uninett
bjorn\lilje.uib.no (internett)schmidt@blanche.ics.uci.edu (Doug Schmidt) (12/03/88)
In article <INFO-M2%88120216072556@DB0TUI11> Info-Modula2 Distribution List <INFO-M2%UCF1VM.bitnet@jade.berkeley.edu> writes: >>> Larry Campbell <redsox!campbell@WJH12.HARVARD.EDU> << needs manpower >to start implementing a Modula-3 compiler/translator, all done in the >spirit of GNU. Are you kidding ? People do not invest time and effort >for free, or do they ? If you are so nuts that you actually are serious, >then sign me on and I'll do my share || > >Anyone else ? > >_Bav_ sinbv\nobergen or valde\rose.uib.uninett > bjorn\lilje.uib.no (internett) From what I understand, there are some individuals already working on a modula-2 compiler for the GNU project. Assuming that modula-2 is at least a partial subset of modula-3 it might be worthwhile to determine how far along this work is, and whether portions of it might be reused for a modula-3 version ( in the same way that the GNU G++ compiler reuses much of the backend of the GCC compiler ). One of the big wins might be to avoid having to work out the details of an optimizer and code-genertor for multiple target machines, since much of this is available from the FSF. One way to find out what's happening would be to post a question to: info-gcc@prep.ai.mit.edu good luck! Doug Schmidt -- schmidt@ics.uci.edu (ARPA) | Per me si va nella citta' dolente. | Per me si va nell'eterno dolore. | Per me si va tra la perduta gente. | Lasciate ogni speranza o voi ch'entrate.
BOTCHAIR@UOGUELPH.BITNET (Alex Bewley) (12/05/88)
Heck, I'm interested. I may not be much help, but I'm more than willing
to try. Here's to the Modula-3 ranks of Larry Campbell.
Alex
<Just this guy>
BOTCHAIR@UOGUELPHchase@Ozona.orc.olivetti.com (David Chase) (12/05/88)
In article <1032@paris.ics.uci.edu> Doug Schmidt <schmidt@blanche.ics.uci.edu> writes: >From what I understand, there are some individuals already working on >a modula-2 compiler for the GNU project. Assuming that modula-2 is at >least a partial subset of modula-3 it might be worthwhile to determine >how far along this work is, and whether portions of it might be reused >for a modula-3 version. One of the big wins >might be to avoid having to work out the details of an optimizer and >code-genertor for multiple target machines, since much of this is >available from the FSF. [Note -- I'm writing a C-generating backend right now for it, but that's not necessarily public domain. I'm also on what might be called the "Modula-3 peanut gallery". Other people here and at Olivetti STL are working on related language tools.] I would advise anyone seriously considering doing a compiler for Modula-3 to read the report v-e-r-y c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y. The authors of the report didn't waste any words. I'm also willing to answer questions (as time permits) from implementors, since I'd prefer that compilers for Modula-3 work well and actually compile (roughly) the same language. I've had some sad times porting C and Pascal code; I'd like to avoid a proliferation of incompatible dialects of Modula-3. It's not clear how much could be re-used; there is a superficial resemblance, but Modula-3 has a few "added features" that make life more difficult. Writing a good optimizing compiler it for looks like a real chore, especially since intermediate codes designed for C, Fortran, and Pascal don't seem to have the right hooks for exception handling and concurrency (the C "volatile" declaration is best for describing device registers, not shared variables. It'll do the job, but your optimizer will generate inferior code). It's not hard if your optimizer uses very simple schemes for register assignment, but that's not the sort of thing I like to depend on. (ADA has the same problems, if not worse, with its exception handling.) I'll welcome suggestions from anyone who has them; right now I'm casually pursuing Davidson and Benitez's VPO. David
amra@apache.cis.ohio-state.edu (Nasir K Amra) (12/05/88)
I am certainly willing to contribute what I can for developing a front end for modula-3 that works with gnu's backend.