Re: Writing Compilers in Functional Languages

"Kkaa" <onlyafly@gmail.com> writes:


> I've written a few compilers and interpreters in procedural and
> object-oriented languages (in particular Java, C, C++, and C#), and
> these seem to be popular choices, but I would like to write my next
> one in a functional language. Every compiler text I've read assumes
> that you are writing your compiler in a procedural or OO language.
> Are there any books or online resources that instead focus on using
> functional languages as implementation languages? I'm considering
> using Haskell or Scheme, but I'm hoping that the resources won't
> assume a particular functional langauge.


Some possibilities:


Andrew Appel: Modern Compiler Implementation in ML. This assumes
Standard ML as the implementation language and sometimes uses some
very ML-specific programming techniques. There are related books
using Java and C that differ only in the programming examples.




Abelson and Sussman: Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs
(available online at http://mitpress.mit.edu/sicp/) describes
interpetation and compilation of programs using Scheme.


Andrew Appel's "Compiling with Continuations" describes an ML compiler
written in ML.


I'm not aware of a compiler text using Haskell or assuming a
non-specific functional language. I use my own notes for my compiler
class and these don't assume any particular language (nor does it go
into very much detail about implementation), but has occasional hints
of how the high-level descriptions used in the notes can be
implemented in imperative or functional languages. I use Standard ML
for the project in the course. The notes are not currently available
online, but if you are interested, I can mail you a PDF file.


                Torben

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