[Gcl-devel] Re: merging GCL into GCC

[Rafael Espíndola]

On 10 Jun 2005 11:56:06 -0400, Camm Maguire <address@hidden> wrote:
> Greetings!
> 
> [ I've tried to subscribe to the lispnyc group, but apparently have
> failed.  Should I retry? ]
> 
> The beauty of this idea is that a simple yet completely servicable
> integration can be had with very little effort by simply tacking on
> the gcc C frontend to the end of GCL's compiler.  We can then
> incrementally have the compiler emit gcc 'trees' directly in certain
> circumstances.
I don't think that this part of the transaction is going to be so smooth :(
The C front end expects to get its input for a file and ships one
function at a time to the backend. The GENERIC trees are constructed
in memory. This makes it complicated to have a compilation unit that
is partially C and partially GENERIC.

> What we gain here is more than optimization, I think.  We gain
> mindshare and support resources for lisp going forward.  There was
> quite a bit of interest in this project from regular gcc contributers
> when I last suggested it -- it would be great to be able to lever some
> of their outstanding expertise in the service of lisp.
It is good to know that :)
 
> I don't forsee any undue difficulties, apart from the complexity that
> any such project would entail.  But really, its all just an I/O
> filter :-).
> 
> I'll do it myself eventually if time permits, but ansi compliance
> comes first.
Thanks.
 
> Take care,
> 
> -- 
> Camm Maguire                                          address@hidden
> ==========================================================================
> "The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens."  --  Baha'u'llah
> 

Rafael