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0 pointspjmlp6mo ago0 comments

Implementations are orthogonal to languages, there have been C and C++ interpreters since the languages exist, as you can see by looking at BYTE and Dr Dobbs archives looking for compiler developer tools ads.

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17186274406mo ago

But some are more suited then others. For example, I believe the C standard to not describe what is supposed to happen when the definition of a function changes.

pjmlpOP6mo ago

It doesn't have to, that is an implementation detail or OS specific feature.

Two scenarios where the definition of a function in C changes, are dynamic libraries on OSes that allow reloading the same library multiple times, or self-rewriting code.

Here you stay within the realms of a compiled language implementation, where what happens, is only expecified by compiler specific features, or OS capabilities handling executables and dynamic libraries.

17186274406mo ago

Yes, but it suddenly matters if you execute code in an interpreter, where the user can change any symbol/function definition at anytime. What do you do with a a struct definition, that changes? Do all the functions return something different now? Or does the return type of all the functions change to an anon struct and the name now refers to something different. Stuff like that is what the distinction is between a compiled and an interpreted language.

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olivia-banks6mo ago

C++ is considered to be a typically compiled language by the majority of people. But you’re right, I should have said that it makes GCC look like a C++ interpreter.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

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17186274406mo ago

But some are more suited then others. For example, I believe the C standard to not describe what is supposed to happen when the definition of a function changes.

pjmlpOP6mo ago

It doesn't have to, that is an implementation detail or OS specific feature.

Two scenarios where the definition of a function in C changes, are dynamic libraries on OSes that allow reloading the same library multiple times, or self-rewriting code.

17186274406mo ago

1 more reply

olivia-banks6mo ago

C++ is considered to be a typically compiled language by the majority of people. But you’re right, I should have said that it makes GCC look like a C++ interpreter.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse