Re: p-code compilers

Bogomil Alexondrov <ec98bna@brunel.ac.uk> wrote:


>Does somebody know a website focused on pseudo code compilers and
>especially possible optimizations for it. btw can a program not
>generating machine code but pseudo code be called compiler or is it a
>translator? what is the exact definition for compiler? Java is
>generating pseudo code so it must be a translator rather than
>compiler?


    1) Very simply. It fits the definition. (If I build a machine that
has as its instruction set the instruction set of a P-machine, does
that change the classification of previously written language
translators that generate that formerly P-code? I don't think so. To
me, it wouldn't be a useful distinction.)


    2) The ACM came up with definitions. I don't know where to go to
find them, but recall reading them some time ago.


    3) It's both.


>Thanks in advance for any help


          Are you sure you want to thank me?


          This could get into a religious war. There's a similar one on
alt.folklore.computers where someone is claiming that FORTH is an
assembly language. His argument does have it point, but it seems to
be stretching things a bit much for my comfort.


>Best Regards: Bogomil Alexandrov
>[I've never made a strong distinction between translators and compilers.
>I suppose if the output is supposed to be legible to people it's a
>translator, if it's just for computers it's a compiler. -John]


          I learned it as language translators include assemblers and
compilers.


Sincerely,


Gene Wirchenko
[One or two more messages on this topic and I'll end it, since the
definitions are clearly matters of religious preference. -John]

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