Sasha Koshka
1f19292366
This project is frozen for now so it doesn't make sense to have dates for the roadmap. |
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analyzer | ||
assets | ||
cli | ||
cmd | ||
compiler | ||
design | ||
entity | ||
errors | ||
generator | ||
integer | ||
lexer | ||
llvm | ||
parser | ||
testcommon | ||
.editorconfig | ||
go.mod | ||
go.sum | ||
LICENSE | ||
README.md |
FSPL
Freestanding programming language: a high-ish-level language that has absolutely no need for any runtime support, designed to work well in scenarios where dragging along a language runtime is either not possible or simply unwanted.
This language is designed for:
- Operating system development
- Embedded software
- Integrating cleanly into existing software
Design Principles
- Abstractions must happen at compile time unless absolutely necessary
- Compiler must not generate any functions that the user does not write
- Compiler must avoid generating logic that the user does not write
Installation
Before installing the compiler with go install
, you will need to install the
Go programming language on your system. Afterwards, you can
install the compiler and associated tooling by running:
go install ./cmd/*
The fsplc
program depends on the LLVM IR compiler (llc
). If it is not found,
it will attempt to use clang
instead but with some features disabled. Please
ensure either llc
or clang
are installed and accessible from your PATH
before using this software.
Usage
The fsplc
program may be used as follows:
fsplc [ARGUMENT(S)...] ADDRESS
The program compiles the unit with the specified address into one output file. The output file type is determined by the filename extension of the output file:
Extension | Type |
---|---|
.s | Native assembly |
.o | Object file |
.ll | LLVM IR |
If no output file is specified, it will default to an object file with the
nickname of the input address. For more information on how to use the fsplc
program, run fsplc --help
.
Object files can be linked into an executable binary using the linker of your
choice, or by using a C compiler such as clang
:
clang -o OUTPUT INPUT.o
Using a C compiler will link the C standard library to your program, which may be useful for building normal user applications.
Learning the language
At this time, there is no guided method of learning how to write FSPL code.
However, a good place to start is the design
directory, which contains a
language specification among other things. The language specification goes into
detail about the syntax and semantics of the language, and assuming some
background in C programming, it should be enough to attain a reasonable grasp
of the language.
Caveats, Bugs
Note that the compiler is still relatively early in development, and has numerous bugs. In addition, language features and syntax are not yet set in stone and may change in the future. Please report any bugs you find to the issue tracker.
Roadmap
Q4 2023:
- Type definitions
- Methods
- Defined and external functions
- Strict, static, bottom-up type inference
- Pointers
- Arrays
- Slices
- Structs
- Interfaces
- Integer, floating point, string, struct, and array Literals
- Assignment
- Variables
- Function, method, and interface behavior calls
- Operations
- Casting
- Blocks
- If/else
- Loops
Q1 2024:
- Union types (carry type information)
- Match statements
- Modules
- For/range loops
- Switch statements
Afterwards:
- Mutable/immutable variables
- Basic, non-final standard library routines
- Conditional compilation
- Shared library compilation
- Constants
- ABI documentation
- Vararg
- FSPL vararg using Slices
- Optional per-function C-style vararg for compatibility
- Generics
- Ownership system
- Lightweight, modularized (and of course, totally optional) standard library to replace those written previously
FAQ
I have either been asked these questions, or expect to be at some point.
What happened to ARF?
A couple of years ago, I attempted to create a programming language under the name ARF, with the goal of trying out some new and interesting syntax I'd come up with. I made several attempts to build a working compiler for it, but never quite succeeded. When I entered my senior year at university, I decided to have another crack at it as my senior project. By then, the ideas I had for the language had changed so much, it was basically a Ship of Theseus situation and it really just needed a new name altogether. Plus, ARF never really stood for anything in the first place.
Why Go?
Out of all the languages I know, I probably know Go the best. It was an obvious choice for making something this complex. However, I'd like to self-host the compiler eventually.
I know you as X name from Y place, why is your name here Sasha Koshka?
I consider it a bad idea to share your real name over the internet.