Metablog

Computer science question. What would it take to make a language to describe both an interpreter and a compiler for an arbitrary language? So that you could have one program that takes the description of the target language and interprets that language, and have another program that compiles the target language? If such a specification language were possible, would writing compilers/interpreters in it be practically possible, and if so, how easy? I’m surprised that googling didn’t turn anything up along these lines.

There are languages where most implementations support interpretation and compiling, like Common Lisp, but in general it seems to be the exception.

What is the philosophical difference between interpretation and compiling? How would it be best characterized?

Filed under Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.