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From: paul@u02.svl.cdc.com (Paul Kohlmiller)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mips
Subject: Re: MIPS code generator
Message-ID: <33998@shamash.cdc.com>
Date: 10 Jun 91 18:31:42 GMT
Article-I.D.: shamash.33998
References: <33839@shamash.cdc.com> <12503@scolex.sco.COM> <4460@spim.mips.COM>
Sender: usenet@shamash.cdc.com
Lines: 33

murphy@mips.com (Mike Murphy) writes:

>>In article <33839@shamash.cdc.com> peters@dsr.cpg.cdc.com (Rob Peters) writes:
>>I have a company that wishes to convert their compiler to MIPs hardware.  
>>The product is mostly coded in C, except for the Code Generator which is
>>in assembly code (they do native implementations).  They are now converting
>>80386 assembly routines to 4000 assembly code.  I suggested that maybe they 
>>could use the MIPs Code Generator, assuming that it is modular and is
>>accessible by a third-party compiler writer.
>>
Here's another idea ...
The problem in moving a compiler to a new code generator is that the compiler
will be generating some kind of intermediate language and the code generator
accepts a different intermediate language. 
Word has it that OSF will be promoting a "universal" intermediate language
called ANDF. Imagine the following: your customer wants to move a compiler to
the MIPS hardware. They need a ANDF converter that takes their code (object
code, assembler code, intermediate code, whatever) and generates ANDF code. Then
someone else creates an ANDF translator for MIPS (let's say EP/IX) that takes
ANDF and produces C code. You now have a cross-compiler. If you move the
customers compiler (that eventually creates ANDF code) to EP/IX, you have now
moved the compiler to EP/IX (at some cost in compilation time).
The only thing missing is the two converters. Producing an ANDF to C translator
for EP/IX should be a piece of cake (hope we can find someone to do it). The
386 to ANDF converter may already be done (you would have to check with OSF).
Good Luck.
Paul Kohlmiller

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