Powerlang is a framework for easily implementing programming languages by providing the necessary tools like a virtual machine, compiler, and debugger. It aims to minimize the effort required to bootstrap a new language by offering a small deployable size and facilitating debugging of incomplete language systems through both high-level and low-level debugging. Current work on Powerlang includes proof-of-concept implementations for Smalltalk and two virtual machine backends.

1. Powerlang: a Vehicle forPowerlang: a Vehicle for
Lively ImplementingLively Implementing
Programming LanguagesProgramming Languages
Javier Pimás
Guido Chari

2. 2
What does it take to create a PL?
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Compiler
– Parser
– Scanner
– Execution Semantics
– Assembler
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Virtual Machine
– Primitives
– Garbage Collection

3. 3
What does it take to create a PL?
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Bootstrapping
– Executable image
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Debugging
– Remote execution
– Simulation

4. 4
Current approaches
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Other existing VM
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Metacompilation frameworks
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Micro VMs
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Write your own
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Powerlang

5. 5
Bootstrapping
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Minimal initial effort
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Bit-by-bit reproducibility
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Minimal deploy size

6. 6
Simulation and Debugging
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Incomplete systems should be
debuggable
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Both high- and low-level debugging

7. 7
Compiling and Optimizing
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Provide compilation tooling
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How to model of language behavior?
m
^self foo
#(1 #(9 true #(5 1 #(3 6))))

8. 8
Current and Future work
github.com/melkyades/powerlang
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MIT license
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Initial proof-of-concept Smalltalk code
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Two VM implementations
– DMR fully dynamic VM
– eclipse OMR

9. 9
Questions?