Re: Newbie question: What is the importance for a compiler to be able to compile itself?

Hans-Peter Diettrich <DrDiettrich1@aol.com> wrote:
< armencho@gmail.com schrieb:


<> What is the importance with a compiler that is able to compile itself?
(snip)


< Not all languages are designed for implementing compilers, they even
< must not be Turing-complete. But when a language is general-purpose
< enough, possible customers may wonder when the compiler cannot compile
< itself - does the creator not trust it's own compiler, or does the
< language lack essential elements, which may stop an application project
< in the implementation phase?


Fortran compilers are rarely written in Fortran. The OS/360 Fortran H
compiler is about half Fortran IV, with a few extensions that were
later added to the language. (Mostly bit manipulation functions.)


One advantage in that case was that optimization features
would help the compiler run faster.


Now that Fortran has more string capabilities, it still doesn't
seem to be a popular language for implementing Fortran compilers.


Many now seem to use the same back end as the corresponding C
compiler, reducing the amount of work needed.


-- glen

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