Re: Choosing a language for compiler design

>pjmlp@students.si.fct.unl.pt (Paulo Jose Matos Lopes Pinto - Aluno
>Eng. Informatica) writes:
>> Now that I have an Yacc/Lex files for Oberon, I face the problem of
>> choosing a language for its implementation.
>> I have versions of Yacc/Lex for C, C++, Turbo Pascal and Ada.


(I missed your posting, but am replying based on other people's replies.)


Ask yourself: why are your writing this compiler? From your email
address I think you are at a University. So: if you are a student,
then your goal is to learn new things. I would choose the language you
most want to learn. You will learn about compilers no matter which
language you choose, so you might as well learn about a language you
care about, also. I would think that would be C++ or C, since those
languages are the most likely to be useful to you in later life. On
the other hand, if you already know C++ and C, then I would consider
Java. Java is a very trendy language, and knowing it will help you
get a job, etc.


On the other hand, if you are professor or grad student, then your
goal is to produce an Oberon compiler. In that case, I would choose
the language which you already know the best. Of the four languages
you listed above, none is much better than another for writing a
compiler. Therefore, your skill with the language will be the most
important facter in producing the compiler quickly and with high
quality.


Joshua Levy <joshua@intrinsa.com>
--

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