Interesting Snippets from 2012-06-06

• Create a working compiler with the LLVM framework, Part 1

  The LLVM (formerly the Low Level Virtual Machine) is an extremely powerful compiler infrastructure framework designed for compile-time, link-time, and run time optimizations of programs written in your favorite programming language. LLVM works on several different platforms, and its primary claim to fame is generating code that runs fast.

  The LLVM framework is built around a well-documented intermediate representation (IR) of code. This article—the first in a two-part series—delves into the basics of the LLVM IR and some of its subtleties. From there, you will build a code generator that can automate the work of generating the LLVM IR for you. Having an LLVM IR generator means that all you need is a front end for your favorite language to plug into, and you have a full flow (front-end parser + IR generator + LLVM back end). Creating a custom compiler just got simplified.

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