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Torsten Ruger 2015-11-30 20:25:17 +02:00
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@ -16,7 +16,19 @@ parser to parse ruby. Then it will be ruby --> Soml --> assembler --> binary .
## Done
Some things that are finished (for *a* definition of finished, ie started)
Some things that are finished, look below for current status / work
### Soml
A working of the [system language](http://salama-vm.org/soml/soml.html) is done. It is
strongly typed, but leans more towards ruby style syntax.
Completely object oriented, including calling convention. Not much slower than c.
### A runtime: Parfait
In a dynamic system the distinction between compile-time and run-time is blurs. But a minimum
of support is needed to get the system up, and that is [Parfait](http://salama-vm.org/soml/parfait.html)
### Interpreter
@ -29,115 +41,12 @@ And after the interpreter was done, i wrote a [visual debugger](https://github.c
It is a simple opal application that nevertheless has proven great help both in figuring out
what is going on, and in finding bugs.
### Assembly
Produce binary that represents code.
Traditionally called assembling, but there is no need for an external file representation.
Most instructions are in fact assembling correctly. Meaning i have tests, and i can use objdump to
verify the correct assembler code is disassembled
I even polished the dsl and so (from the tests), this is a valid hello world:
hello = "Hello World\n"
@program.main do
mov r7, 4 # 4 == write
mov r0 , 1 # stdout
add r1 , pc , hello # address of "hello World"
mov r2 , hello.length
swi 0 #software interupt, ie kernel syscall
mov r7, 1 # 1 == exit
swi 0
end
write(7 + hello.length/4 + 1 , 'hello')
### Linking
Package the code into an executable, currently elf, and very simple at that.
Above Hello World can be linked and run. And will say its thing.
There is no way to link c code currently and not planned either, for some time (see next)
### Syscalls
Some small portion of what libc usually provides is needed even right at the beginning.
Mainly file open and read, exit, that kind of thing. Looking at libc implementations and
kernel "api" docs, this is quite simple to do.
As said, "Hello world" comes out and does use syscall 4.
Also the program stops by syscall exit.
The full list is on the net and involves mostly just work.
### Parse Soml
Parse Soml, using Parslet. This has been separated out as it's own gem, [salama-reader](https://github.com/salama/salama-reader).
Soml is now fully typed (all variables, arguments and return). Also it has statements, unlike ruby
where everything is an statements. Statements have no value. Otherwise it is quite basic, and
it's main purpose is to have an oo system language to compile to.
I spent some time on the parse testing framework, so it is safe to fiddle and add.
In fact it is very modular and easy to add to.
### Register: Compile the Ast
Since we now have an Abstact syntax tree, it needs to be compiled to a virtual machine Instruction format.
For the parsed subset that's almost done.
It took me a while to come up with a decent but simple machine model. I had tried to map straight to hardware
but failed. The current Register directory represent a machine with basic oo features.
### Parfait - the runtime
After an initial phase where i aimed for a **really** really small run-time, i have now started to
implement a more decent set classes and functions. This is a process off course.
I was encouraged by the thought that a large amount of the run-time code can actually be
reused at compile time, by using inlining. That off course assumes that i figure out how to do
inlining, but i have at least an idea.
### Sof
Salama Object File format is a yaml like format to look at code dumps and help testing.
The dumper is ok and does produce (as intended) considerably denser dumps than yaml
When a reader is done (not started) the idea is to use sof as pre-compiled, language independent
exchange format, have the core read that, and use the mechanism to achieve language independence.
## Status
Currently all the work is on the Soml front. Also documenting the *small* change of a new language.
Having finished Soml, it's time to compile ruby to it.
I'll do some simple string and fibo examples in Soml next.
This will mean more work on the type front.
Next will be the multiple return feature and then to try to compile ruby to Soml.
## Future
#### Blocks
Implement ruby Blocks, and make new vm classes to deal with that. This is in fact a little open,
but i have a general notion that blocks are "just" methods with even more implicit arguments.
#### Exceptions
Implement Exceptions. Conceptually this is not so difficult in an oo machine as it would be in c.
I have a post [about it](http://salama.github.io/2014/06/27/an-exceptional-though.html)
which boils down to the fact that we can treat the address to return to in an exception quite
like a return address from a function. Ie just another implicit parameter
(as return is really an implicit parameter, a little like self for oo)
### C linking
Implement a way to call libc and other c libraries. I am not placing a large emphasis on this personally,
but expect somebody will come along and have library they want to use so much they can't stop themselves.
Personally i think a fresh start is what we need much more. I once counted the call chain from a simple
printf to the actual kernel invocation in some libc, and it was getting to 10!
I hope with dynamic (re)compiling and intelligent inlining, we can do better than that.
### Stary sky
@ -146,7 +55,6 @@ Iterate:
1. more cpus (ie intel)
2. more systems (ie mac)
3. more syscalls, there are after all some hundreds
4. Ruby is full of niceties that are not done, also negative tests are non existant
5. A lot of modern cpu's functionality has to be mapped to ruby and implemented in assembler to be useful
6. Different sized machines, with different register types ?
7. on 64bit, there would be 8 bits for types and thus allow for rational, complex, and whatnot
@ -172,5 +80,5 @@ Fork and create a branch before sending pulls.
== Copyright
Copyright (c) 2014 Torsten Ruger. See LICENSE.txt for
further details.
Copyright (c) 2014/5 Torsten Ruger.
See LICENSE.txt for further details.