Show HN: Optimizing compiler for a large subset of C, written in Rust

(github.com)

Hello.

I wanted to share what I had been working on for the past couple of months or so. It's an optimizing C compiler for a large subset of the C programming language written in Rust. It's basically a Rust implementation of the C compiler from Nora Sandler's book[1].

It has been a great educational exercise and I wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone.

[1]: https://nostarch.com/writing-c-compiler

1. lutusp ◴[22 Oct 24 01:33 UTC] No.41910319[source]▶

>>41910080 (OP) #

It's my hope that people will take the hint: "Wait ... if Rust is a better way to compile C than C itself, maybe I should learn Rust."

replies(4): >>41950482 #>>41950572 #>>41950577 #>>41950633 #

2. kif ◴[25 Oct 24 22:31 UTC] No.41950482[source]▶

>>41910319 #

I've tried Rust, and it's just too much cognitive overhead. C is simple, and that simplicity is hard to beat. Go on the other hand is more like C in that regard.

3. hu3 ◴[25 Oct 24 22:40 UTC] No.41950572[source]▶

>>41910319 #

Currently, that would be Zig.

4. yjftsjthsd-h ◴[25 Oct 24 22:40 UTC] No.41950577[source]▶

>>41910319 #

What makes you think Rust is a better way to compile C than C?

replies(1): >>41950653 #

5. unclad5968 ◴[25 Oct 24 22:48 UTC] No.41950633[source]▶

>>41910319 #

Rust itself is compiled with LLVM which is millions of lines of C++. Does that mean that C++ is better than rust?

6. fanf2 ◴[25 Oct 24 22:50 UTC] No.41950653{3}[source]▶

>>41950577 #

Algebraic data types

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