The article explores Java as a compiler target language, highlighting its advantages over C for implementing high-level language features like closures via anonymous classes. It notes that targeting Java can reduce compiler development time and code size by 50-66% while providing access to JVM benefits like libraries and garbage collection. The main trade-off is the lack of tail-call optimization, though workarounds like trampolining are possible.
Background
Compiler design often uses C as a target language for performance, but alternative targets like Java offer different trade-offs in implementation complexity and runtime features. The JVM ecosystem provides portable execution, libraries, and memory management that can simplify compiler development.
- Source
- Lobsters
- Published
- Apr 16, 2026 at 09:05 PM
- Score
- 7.0 / 10