Hi All, I now have an x86 simulator integrated into Squeak that can execute code form a ByteArray, Bitmap etc. So I'm now ready to write the JIT code generator. I want a simple framework that can convert from an abstract register-transfer-level instruction set to a concrete machine code, x86/IA32 in the first instance. I wonder what frameworks there are that I can, um, exploit. The end result must be Smalltalk code that can generate machine code and can be translated via Slang to C. I've already extended Slang somewhat for the Stack VM so that simple classes can be converted to structs. But the Slang technology I have is still a long way from translating arbitrary Smalltalk to C, so when you think "Smalltalk framework" think "Limited Smalltalk/C hybrid framework".
I know that Exupery has an assembler in it but it is quite high-level and oriented to textual assembly whereas my JIT will have no assembler level in it, just stack contents abstractions (to model receiver, arguments, temporaries, intermediates, constants, etc), register transfer level and concrete machine code. I know Ian has written the exact framework I need but in C. Are there any other candidates?
Ian, how difficult would it be to translate your framework (ccg?) into Smalltalk so that it can be translated back into C via Slang? My guess is not too hard. Have you got a pointer to an up-to-date ccg? Also, what other ISAs does it target?
best Eliot