Macro SPITBOL—a SNOBOL4 compiler
RBK Dewar, AP McCann - Software: Practice and Experience, 1977 - Wiley Online Library
RBK Dewar, AP McCann
Software: Practice and Experience, 1977•Wiley Online LibraryA fast and compact compiler/interpreter for SPITBOL (a variant of SNOBOL4) has been
written in a machine‐independent macro assembly language and implemented initially on
the ICL 1900 range of computers. The interpreter uses a novel form of indirect polish code
which assists portability. Compile‐time pre‐evaluation of constant expressions has proved
to be a worthwhile optimization. A description is given in some detail of the simple but rapid
scheme, requiring no marker bits, employed for garbage collection.
written in a machine‐independent macro assembly language and implemented initially on
the ICL 1900 range of computers. The interpreter uses a novel form of indirect polish code
which assists portability. Compile‐time pre‐evaluation of constant expressions has proved
to be a worthwhile optimization. A description is given in some detail of the simple but rapid
scheme, requiring no marker bits, employed for garbage collection.
Abstract
A fast and compact compiler/interpreter for SPITBOL (a variant of SNOBOL4) has been written in a machine‐independent macro assembly language and implemented initially on the ICL 1900 range of computers. The interpreter uses a novel form of indirect polish code which assists portability. Compile‐time pre‐evaluation of constant expressions has proved to be a worthwhile optimization. A description is given in some detail of the simple but rapid scheme, requiring no marker bits, employed for garbage collection.