Path: csiph.com!x330-a1.tempe.blueboxinc.net!usenet.pasdenom.info!weretis.net!feeder4.news.weretis.net!newsfeed.kpn.net!pfeed08.wxs.nl!proxad.net!feeder1-1.proxad.net!198.186.194.250.MISMATCH!news-out.readnews.com!news-xxxfer.readnews.com!news.misty.com!news.iecc.com!nerds-end From: "s_dubrovich@yahoo.com" Newsgroups: comp.compilers Subject: Re: Language Design Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2011 18:43:58 -0700 (PDT) Organization: Compilers Central Lines: 34 Sender: news@iecc.com Approved: comp.compilers@iecc.com Message-ID: <11-08-005@comp.compilers> References: <11-07-027@comp.compilers> NNTP-Posting-Host: news.iecc.com X-Trace: gal.iecc.com 1312510510 59216 64.57.183.58 (5 Aug 2011 02:15:10 GMT) X-Complaints-To: abuse@iecc.com NNTP-Posting-Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2011 02:15:10 +0000 (UTC) Keywords: design Posted-Date: 04 Aug 2011 22:15:10 EDT X-submission-address: compilers@iecc.com X-moderator-address: compilers-request@iecc.com X-FAQ-and-archives: http://compilers.iecc.com Xref: x330-a1.tempe.blueboxinc.net comp.compilers:222 On Jul 18, 3:16 pm, Billy Mays <81282ed9a88799d21e77957df2d84bd6514d9...@myhashismyemail.com> wrote: > I am trying to design a programming language for a simple processor > (16 bit, ~10 instructions, 16 registers). I am not sure what a > language actually needs in order to be more useful than pure assembly, > but is also reasonable to implement. I'd list the top three as: consistant, readable, provide high level flow control constructs. You can get that with assembly language and a separate macro pre- processor. > I had originally tried to make a RPN style language where the language > is purely stack based, but I realized it wouldn't be Turing complete. > I'd rather not just re implement C or other commonly used languages, > but I'm having a hard time coming up with something I'd actually want > to use. > > Any advice for a newbie? No one has mentioned Grimley Evans's bcompiler. It is actually several step-wise compilers to bootstrap his BCC compiler, from nothing. He borrows the stream i/o convenience of linux; stdin, stdout, redirection to/from a file and the elf file format. here: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/edmund.grimley-evans/ Anyway, food for thought.. Steve