Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!ncrlnk!ncr-sd!hp-sdd!hplabs!hpda!hpcuhb!hpcllla!hpclisp!hpclscu!shankar
From: shankar@hpclscu.HP.COM (Shankar Unni)
Newsgroups: comp.arch
Subject: Re: Software Distribution
Message-ID: <650004@hpclscu.HP.COM>
Date: 23 Sep 88 18:50:52 GMT
References: <891@taux01.UUCP>
Organization: HP NSG/ISD California Language Lab
Lines: 19

> I have felt in my bones that an efficient Intermediate Language for
> conventional processors [(examples)] is realistic proposition....
> 
> [Description of IL..]
> 

Such a piece of research was done years ago at Stanford ("Ucode".
Exact reference not available at the moment).

> Good though this would be for the advancement of Computer Science I
> cannot see it being commercial.  That is, I could not imagine a
> Company that produces the IL definition and sufficient code generators
> and compiler front ends to establish a momentum making a profit. :-(.

Well, surprise, surprise. Both HP and MIPS use such an intermediate language
for their RISC processors. And at least one of them is making a profit :-).
(Disclaimer: I have no information on the other. No flames..) So there!
--
Shankar.