Is it possible to write scripting language that translates to C code?

Question

I have an idea to create scripting language which will make people to program easier doing a lot of macros, functions, simpler function names everything more simpler for simple person to work with. That code (custom scripting language) then should be translated to simple C language things. Like so:

Scripting:
IO[9].high
@include "lib"
for (int i=0 to 55)

end
C:
IO |= (1<<9);
#include "lib.h"
int i = 0;
for (i=0; i<55; i++) {

}

Is it possible somehow efficiently write this macro/scripting language which would nicely output to c code?

Of course it is possible: after all, it's a simple conversion of text to text. Do you think The World needs yet another syntax to represent C programs, though? — Sergey Kalinichenko
– Sergey Kalinichenko, Commented Jul 10, 2012 at 11:48
It's possible to do this, but it's not usually the right solution. You would (possibly) be better off writing a front end for something like clang/llvm. Example — Flexo - Save the data dump
– Flexo - Save the data dump ♦, Commented Jul 10, 2012 at 11:49
Why would "simple people" want to program in C? Give them Python or something like that, and they can get simple jobs done easily. — Kerrek SB
– Kerrek SB, Commented Jul 10, 2012 at 12:03
Just a thought, but if you're going to create a C scripting language, you might not want to change the meaning of existing C syntax. — FatalError
– FatalError, Commented Jul 10, 2012 at 12:03

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 12:08:26Z

3

Thanks to PyPy, it is possible to translate a subset of Python code into c.

For further details, see the following reference : http://doc.pypy.org/en/latest/translation.html

See also the following question, which is basically your question specifying Python as the scripting language : Use Cython as Python to C Converter

edited May 23, 2017 at 12:08

CommunityBot

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answered Jul 10, 2012 at 15:17

Nicolas Barbey

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Comments

ecatmur · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-10 12:26:59Z

3

Absolutely; some languages which compile (or have compiled) into C include Eiffel, Haskell (GHC), Vala, and Squeak. The earlier versions of C++ were implemented as a C++-to-C translator (CFront).

The general concept is an intermediate language. C is mentioned as being used as an intermediate language; by making use of a C compiler you gain binary compatibility with many languages and libraries and avoid having to write your own compiler; Ritchie describes C as being used as a "portable assembly language".

However, as with C++ you might quickly find that targeting C becomes overly restrictive; GHC are moving towards a dedicated intermediate language called C--, and you might find that using the LLVM toolchain (essentially, targeting the LLVM intermediate representation) is a better approach for multi-platform compatibility.

edited Jul 10, 2012 at 12:26

answered Jul 10, 2012 at 12:21

ecatmur

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1 Comment

Aurimas Niekis Over a year ago

The problem is that I developing this "language" for 8bit micro-controllers and I can't use llvm and other cool stuff I am very limited to avr-gcc. Now I think that only solution is preg_match many things and replace to C equivalents.

Lunar Mushrooms · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-10 12:33:00Z

1

For example, Have you seen mib2c script from netsnmp?. It generates C source using script. You can refer to that for getting more ideas.

answered Jul 10, 2012 at 12:33

Lunar Mushrooms

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