gelccompiler

gelccompiler is a compiler designed for the Gel programming language, an experimental language used to illustrate compiler construction concepts. It is part of the Gel toolchain and is intended to translate Gel source code into executable programs or intermediate representations suitable for further processing by other tools. The project emphasizes modularity, portability, and clear diagnostic reporting.

The architecture consists of a front end, a middle end, and a back end. The front end handles lexical analysis, parsing, symbol resolution, and semantic checks. The middle end operates on an intermediate representation to optimize and transform code while preserving semantics. The back end generates target-specific code and handles linking or emission of bytecode, depending on the chosen backend.

Gel is a statically typed language with support for modules and first-class functions. gelccompiler exposes a pluggable backend system, enabling code generation for multiple targets. Common backends include an LLVM-based code generator for native binaries and a WebAssembly backend for browser or server environments. The toolchain can emit optimized machine code at higher optimization levels and include debug information for development.

Usage: gelccompiler is invoked from the command line with options for optimization, debugging, and target selection. Typical invocation: gelccompiler -O2 -g -o program file.gel. It supports include paths, library linking, and profiles to guide optimization passes.

Development and licensing: gelccompiler is distributed under an open-source license and is developed by a community of contributors. The project uses CMake for builds and aims to be cross-platform, running on major operating systems with modern toolchains.

Impact and reception: In educational and research settings, gelccompiler is used to demonstrate compiler design concepts and to prototype language features. Documentation and tutorials accompany releases, and the project maintains issue trackers and contribution guidelines.