Bootstrapping (compilers)
Bootstrapping is a computer science method to create a programming language, that is compiled with itself. In most cases, a compiler is written in a language, where the compiler is rewritten for the language that is being compiled.[1]
Most popular programming languages all follow a pattern of bootstrapped compilers. Some include Java, C#, C, Rust, Ruby, Python, and more.
Process
Bootstrapping usually has just a few stages: [2]
- Build & prepare tools, and software to create a bootstrap compiler.[3]
- Stage 1: Create a compiler for your programming language using another language, or whatever tools you have. This will be used to compile your final compilers.
- Stage 2: Use your created compiler to recreate your original compiler. This should be identical to a stage 1 compiler.
- Stage 3: Any newly added features would be added at stage 2, where the language is now only written in itself, and is compiled using a compiler, compiled in the same language.
Early Bootstrapping
In 1962, Tim Hart, and Mike Levin wrote a compiler for LISP, inside of LISP.[4] They improved the compiler until it was capable of compiling itself.
References
- ↑ Reynolds, John H.. Bootstrapping a self-compiling compiler from machine X to machine Y. Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges 19 (2) (December 2003). p. 175–181.
- ↑ Advanced Build Configurations — LLVM 10 documentation. llvm.org.
- ↑ Installing GCC: Building. GNU Project - Free Software Foundation (FSF).
- ↑ Tim Hart and Mike Levin. AI Memo 39-The new compiler. Retrieved 2008-05-23.