perlcc

Perlcc is a compiler for the Perl programming language. It aims to translate Perl code into C code, which can then be compiled by a standard C compiler into a native executable. The primary goal of Perlcc is to improve the performance of Perl programs by leveraging the optimizations of C compilers and producing code that runs natively.

The project has been in development for a long time, and its status and effectiveness have varied over its history. While the concept of compiling Perl to C is appealing for speed gains, practical implementation faces challenges. Perl's dynamic nature, its extensive use of introspection, and its vast ecosystem of modules can make a direct and efficient translation to static C code difficult.

Perlcc typically works by parsing Perl source code, performing some analysis, and then generating equivalent C code. This generated C code then needs to be compiled with a C compiler like GCC or Clang. The resulting binary is intended to be faster than the original interpreted Perl script.

Despite its potential, Perlcc has not achieved widespread adoption. Several factors contribute to this, including the complexity of the compilation process, the overhead involved in translating dynamic Perl features, and the fact that for many common tasks, the performance gains might not justify the effort or potential compatibility issues. Furthermore, modern Perl interpreters have themselves undergone significant performance improvements, narrowing the gap that compilers like Perlcc aim to bridge. Development and support for Perlcc have also been sporadic.