ITR Collaborative Research: A Reusable, Extensible, Optimizing Back End

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A computer program is written in a high-level *programming* *language*,but to be run, it must be translated into a *machine* *language*.A translator is difficult and expensive to build, and using today'stechniques, each programming language needs its own translator. Forexample, it is nearly impossible to use the same translator for both Javaand C++. The project is developing techniques by which a ``back end,''which understands machine language, can serve many different ``frontends,'' each of which understands a different programming language.Combining such front and back ends can produce a translator much morecheaply than is possible at present. The major new idea is to use*three* interfaces. The C-- language is an interface that enablesthe front end to tell the back end what a program should do. The C--run-time interface reveals decisions made by the back end so that thefront end can support such services as garbage collection and threads.The Cobalt language is an interface that enables the front end to tell theback end what special translation techniques are needed for efficiency ina particular language. These interfaces are supported by new, automatictechniques for eliminating potential errors in translation.