tony@boulder.colorado.edu (Tony Sloane) (11/02/90)
We have released a new version of the Eli compiler construction system for Sun3, Sun4 and VAX computers. Eli integrates off-the-shelf tools and libraries with specialized language processors to generate complete compilers quickly and reliably. Its aim is to simplify the development of new special-purpose languages, implementation of existing languages on new hardware and extension of the constructs and features of existing languages. This message contains a short overview of Eli's capabilities, information on how to obtain a copy, and the license agreement under which Eli is made available. Compiler construction is one of the most heavily-studied applications in computer science. Many common subproblems of this application have been identified and standard solutions devised. Languages such as regular expressions and context-free grammars are available to describe instances of these subproblems so that a tool can generate code to solve them. The Eli system was created to overcome the barriers that prevent routine use of such tools. A simple compiler model provides a specific set of subproblems to be solved by the designer. Solutions are in the form of specifications that may be created specially or extracted from a library, and the actual compiler construction is managed by an expert system that hides the details of tool use. With a simple request, a user can specify creation of any of a wide range of products from a given set of specifications. Typical products are the results of executing the generated compiler on a specified test program, the executable version of that compiler, and the source code and Makefile needed to create it without using Eli. Other products allow the user to obtain performance information and analyze compilation tactics. A help facility links error reports directly to on-line documentation in hypertext form. The Eli system is available via anonymous ftp (alumni.colorado.edu, 128.138.240.32, pub/eli), or on magnetic tape. It requires a Pascal compiler, and has been tested on Sun equipment under SunOS3.x, 4.0 and 4.1, and on VAX equipment under 4.3BSD and Ultrix2.2. Complete system documentation in two formats, Tex dvi format and PostScript for an Apple LaserWriter, is included. Optionally, the documentation is available in hard copy. Prices (in US dollars) include shipping: > Installation tape (DC600A cartridge $75, 9-track $100) > Optional hard copy documentation (about 600 pages: $30) The University requires payment in advance via a check or money order drawn on a US bank and made payable to the University of Colorado. Be sure to specify cartridge or 9-track tape, and optional documentation if required. Mail your order to: Software Engineering Group Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309-0425 USA The Regents of the University of Colorado will grant you a non-exclusive license to use Eli, subject to the following terms and restrictions: The software and documentation are copyrighted with all rights reserved. Under the copyright laws, the software and documentation may be copied only for normal use of the software or for making a backup copy. Such copying rights extend to any other users who are part of the same organization, provided that they observe the same terms and conditions. The same proprietary and copyright notices must be affixed to any permitted copies as were affixed to the original. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tony Sloane Computer Science Department tony@boulder.colorado.edu University of Colorado at Boulder -- Send compilers articles to compilers@esegue.segue.boston.ma.us {ima | spdcc | world}!esegue. Meta-mail to compilers-request@esegue.