Xref: utzoo gnu.gcc:900 comp.lang.modula2:1611
Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!sunybcs!bowen
From: bowen@cs.Buffalo.EDU (Devon E Bowen)
Newsgroups: gnu.gcc,comp.lang.modula2
Subject: Re: Modula2 front end for gcc?
Message-ID: <7894@cs.Buffalo.EDU>
Date: 12 Jul 89 20:34:32 GMT
References: <8728@pyr.gatech.EDU>
Reply-To: bowen@sunybcs.UUCP (Devon E Bowen)
Organization: SUNY/Buffalo Computer Science
Lines: 38

In article <8728@pyr.gatech.EDU> tynor@pyr.UUCP (Steve Tynor) writes:
>Is anyone out there working on a Modula2 front end for gcc (Gnu cc)?

There's work being done on this here. The compiler here is going to
lex and parse the modula-2 code and generate RTL. Then it'll be turning
the RTL over the tail end of gcc for optimization and code generation.
So this isn't a modula-2 to C converter but rather a portable modula-2
compiler using the gcc techniques (and code).

As far as its characteristics, it will have all the feature described
by Wirth (yes, even coroutines). It will also include some things wanted
by the locals here. Some of these things are:

	1) short type.
	2) variable number of parameters passed to a function.
	3) linking with object files from other langs given a
	   definition module for that object file (ie, will
	   link with C libraries).
	4) assertion function for program correctness.

Our department is big on modula-2, so the main drive behind this project
is for instructional use. This means we are keeping strictly to the specs
from Wirth and only making extensions to it that don't change the meaning
of the language. It also means the warning and error messages will attempt
to be instruction.

I really shouldn't even be talking about this at this stage since it's
only started within the last month, but it is being actively worked on
daily. The lexer and parser are done. Current work is with the symbol
tables and then code generation. We don't expect to have much for another
5 months or so. At that time we'll be looking for beta-testers. Look for
more info in the appropriate gnu newsgroup.


Devon Bowen (KA2NRC)		FAX:	   (716) 636-3464
University at Buffalo		BITNET:    bowen@sunybcs.BITNET
				Internet:  bowen@cs.Buffalo.EDU
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