[Timber] Compiler milestone

[Andy Gill]

Fantastic!

I'll compile with Hpc as tests are added. Any recommend way of adding  
tests?

Andy

On Feb 20, 2007, at 8:12 AM, Johan Nordlander wrote:

> Friends,
>
> I'm happy to report that the Timber compiler is now in a such a  
> state that I believe it's time to switch focus to testing.  All  
> passes are implemented and no crucial functionality is left out.
>
> However, very few test runs have been done up to this point, which  
> means that we are still far from having a running compiler.  The  
> run-time system also haven't been checked in yet, but it will be in  
> a day or two.  Still I'd be happy for some help producing dry-run  
> test examples at this stage, before we risk getting stuck with  
> issues that relate to I/O and Unix interfacing.
>
> My suggestion is that we split the testing activities into two phases:
>
> 1. Random testing of everyone's favorite code snippets.  First goal  
> is to produce C output only, then in a few days also to make them  
> run.  This is likely to draw attention to many of the (no doubt)  
> numerous simple and silly bugs that hinder normal operation.  While  
> this activity might generate a lot of error reports initially it  
> should hopefully also lead to a relatively well-behaved compiler in  
> a rather short time.  I expect to do most of the bug-hunting myself  
> while in this phase.
>
> 2. Systematic testing of all branches of every individual pass.   
> This should probably be combined with careful documentation,  
> perhaps also with writing/revising the language definition.  To  
> make this work feasible we should split it up in some sensible way,  
> although it's probably wise to wait until phase 1 is over until we  
> make an attempt at organizing phase 2.
>
> I also have a list of minor areas of the compiler that still need  
> to be completed, as well as some discussion points regarding the  
> actual language design.  But again it's probably best to defer  
> these issues until we at least have a compiler that runs the basic  
> test examples.
>
> So if you're interested in the long term goal and prepared for some  
> initial disappointments, pull out the latest darcs version and  
> generate some error reports!  Send them directly to me and I'll  
> respond to the list after each update to the sources.
>
> Happy lumbering!
> Johan
>
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