Transpiler, a Meaningless Word (2023)
16 days ago
- #transpilers
- #compilers
- #programming-languages
- The article debunks common misconceptions about transpilers versus compilers.
- It argues that transpilers, like compilers, must handle complex semantic differences between languages, not just syntax.
- Examples include Python to C transpilers and BabelJS, showing that transpilers often require frontends and backends similar to compilers.
- The article highlights that transpilers can be as complex as compilers, especially when dealing with features like generators in JavaScript.
- It criticizes the notion that transpilers target the same level of abstraction or are simpler than compilers.
- The piece concludes that programming languages involve both syntax and semantics, and ignoring semantics leads to inferior tools.