Path: csiph.com!v102.xanadu-bbs.net!xanadu-bbs.net!news.glorb.com!news-out.readnews.com!news-xxxfer.readnews.com!news.misty.com!news.iecc.com!nerds-end From: compilers@is-not-my.name Newsgroups: comp.compilers Subject: Re: Good practical language and OS agnostic text? Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2012 03:07:56 -0000 Organization: Compilers Central Lines: 30 Sender: news@iecc.com Approved: comp.compilers@iecc.com Message-ID: <12-04-053@comp.compilers> References: <12-04-033@comp.compilers> NNTP-Posting-Host: news.iecc.com X-Trace: leila.iecc.com 1334978642 48742 64.57.183.58 (21 Apr 2012 03:24:02 GMT) X-Complaints-To: abuse@iecc.com NNTP-Posting-Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2012 03:24:02 +0000 (UTC) Keywords: books Posted-Date: 20 Apr 2012 23:24:02 EDT X-submission-address: compilers@iecc.com X-moderator-address: compilers-request@iecc.com X-FAQ-and-archives: http://compilers.iecc.com Xref: csiph.com comp.compilers:596 Hans-Peter Diettrich wrote > IMO the OP will be comfortable with Wirth's books, languages and > compilers, which are understandable even without a big theoretical > background. Even if Wirth is concerned with *teaching* compiler > principles, his languages and compilers are not the toys as many people > believe. E.g. Oberon implements a complete OS, with the compiler being > an integrated part of the entire system. From there it's only a small > step to understanding and implementing e.g. JIT compilers, which require > an different approach from stand-alone compilers. I've always found Wirth's terse descriptions tough. I know he was revolutionary so I will have to go over these again and try harder. Thanks for your comments. > Again I suggest the OP to dig into the various (optional) parts of an > compiler later, when he discoverd a *practical* need/motivation for code > flow analysis, register allocation etc. Many people (like me ;-) are > much more open to the theory, when they have practical examples for > their application *before*. Very perceptive observations. Thanks for posting them. > Life is too short for writing an full-blown heavily-optimizing > production compiler from scratch, including its whole RTL. A beginner > IMO is better off with a small language and compiler, where he can study > the related problems, and can find out the areas of his personal interest. Thank you for your comments. I found them very helpful.