17 Jun
2026
17 Jun
'26
11:15 a.m.
I'm sorry but I beg to differ with your, it is entirely possible to
write the code generator for a compiler in a high level language. Most
C-compilers are written that way.
The initial after reset code may need to be written in assembler to
properly setup some registers prior to the run time system for the high
level language (stack, interrupt masks, cache initialization, etc.).
On 6/17/2026 12:55 PM, Paul Koning via cctalk wrote:
On Jun 17, 2026, at 11:55 AM, Mark Green via
cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
I recently reviewed a college program that had a COBOL course. It’s not quite dead in
academia.
Speaking of academia: clearly any "academic" who claims
Assembler is dead is unqualified for the job. It may be true that not very much
application code is written in assembler. But it should be obvious that competence in
assembler is absolutely necessary in order to build a compiler -- in particular, a
compiler back-end.
paul