Abstract

. We illustrate a simple and e#ective solution to semantics-based compiling. Our solution is based on "type-directed partial evaluation", and -- our compiler generator is expressed in a few lines, and is e#cient; -- its input is a well-typed, purely functional definitional interpreter in the style of denotational semantics; -- the output of the generated compiler is e#ectively three-address code, in the fashion and e#ciency of the Dragon Book; -- the generated compiler processes several hundred lines of source code per second. The source language considered in this case study is imperative, blockstructured, higher-order, call-by-value, allows subtyping, and obeys stack discipline. It is bigger than what is usually reported in the literature on semantics-based compiling and partial evaluation. Our compiling technique uses the first Futamura projection, i.e., we compile programs by specializing a definitional interpreter with respect to the program. Specialization is carri...

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