Metacomputation-Based Compiler Architecture

This paper presents a modular and extensible style of language speci cation based on metacomputations. This style uses two monads to factor the static and dynamic parts of the speci cation, thereby staging the speci cation and achieving strong binding-time separation. Because metacomputations are de ned in terms of monads, they can be constructed modularly and extensibly using monad transformers. A number of language constructs are speci ed: expressions, controlow, imperative features, and block structure. Metacomputation-style speci cation lends itself to semantics-directed compilation, which we demonstrate by creating a modular compiler for a block-structured, imperative while language.