"Scott, are you by any chance the everyone-should-write-a-compiler Scott from JoS ?"

He's right. Everyone should. Compilers are cool and leave you with a wow I built that! feeling. Everyone should write a compiler.

Agreed.

Not just a compiler, but a compiler for a language that didn't even exist until that particular compiler was written.

And then they should write another compiler for that language, in that language.

Don't feed the "dancing on the thin edge of deletion" troll, Aaron.

Oh.  Sorry.  I thought it was a serious post, one I happened to agree with.

As a serious post, I think a compiler is too abstract - I'd rather write a control system for some big, dangerous piece of industrial equipment.

I am at heart a theoretician, despite having had to come to grips with practical applications lately.

I love the abstract, generalized case.

What?

It was a serious post.

Why is suggesting that everyone write a compiler because it's a technical thrill grounds for deletion?

I'm not saying you *must* have written one to build PHP websites.

I'm saying it's a thrill.  It's like "wow! it's alive."  It's one of those pieces of software that does so much more than you put into it.  It's amazing.

I think it is much more thrilling to write the compiler that compiles to machine language or assembly than it is to write one that interprets C or whatever.  Of course, I've only written a "compiler" that is really a calculator, so what would I know.

+1 sharky

I haven't done it yet, but it's on my list of things to do.

Please, let's not have "everything is a troll" paranoia.

Wrinting a compiler is also on my TO DO list.

I'm more with Ward.  I want to write the microcontroller code to drive an automated home brewing system.  There's a company in Chicago that will sell me one for $2500, but I can't see dropping that, especially when it would be a lot more fun to build my own.

"I want to write the microcontroller code to drive an automated home brewing system. "

You mean coffee brewing?

Through a neat series of connections, Clay brings us to Michael Jackson of beer fame, the namesake of someone mentioned in the Dijkstra thread:

http://www.beerhunter.com/

What?! I'm the one which would delete the post because it's an existential threat to have other compilers/interpreters out there competing over my mindshare.

Really, I don't find talk of "everyone should write a compiler" to be more thrilling than Americans find talk of "everyone should go on jihad". One of those compilements (like one of those jihadists) could be deadly. It only takes one.

I will allow a few more posts about compiling and such in general, abstract terms, but the second anyone mentions displacing me on this fair earth, you'll get the boot! You hear?

*pats PHP on the head*

Now, now, I've used you before, and you're nice and all that, but I'm seeing someone else right now, someone younger, and more attractive, and compliant to my wishes.

"I think it is much more thrilling to write the compiler that compiles to machine language or assembly than it is to write one that interprets C or whatever."

More to-do for you:

http://www.cminusminus.org/

<One never has time to experience all interesting endeavor...>

Dammit.  Stop. Distracting. Me. With. Your. Shiny. Jewels.

From the site---

"Please write front ends that emit C-- or comment on our design."

I need more than 24 hours in a day.

I want to know how to write a front end that comments on their design.

For me as well -- I did not take the compiler course in university so all I ever did was some interpreter :(

I believe they meant those as two separate items.

I do too, just found the grammar amusing.

I didn't write a compiler in college -- the school split the topic up into separate topics -- parsers and compilers.  I only took the parser class.

Useless trivial: The other C-- (Sphinx C--) was written by a guy who lived in my dorm in University.  Smart guy.  Big partier.  He's also the oldest undergrad I ever met who started right out of highschool.

stanton > I'm seeing someone else right now, someone younger, and more attractive,

sharkfish > Shiny. Jewels.

Groan. I get it. What a pun. <shakes head>

--

I'm gonna design a contract on that fully stacked, rail-thin, brick-headed bitch.

I didn't get to the year in uni where they taught the compiler course, as I dropped out.

Ten years and PHP is old

I think I having my mid life crisis right now.