Metacompilation is a

computation Computation is any type of arithmetic or non-arithmetic calculation that follows a well-defined model (e.g., an algorithm). Mechanical or electronic devices (or, historically, people) that perform computations are known as '' computers''. An esp ...

which involves

metasystem Meta-systems have several definitions. In general, they link the concepts "system" and " meta-". A "meta-system" is about other systems, such as describing, generalizing, modelling, or analyzing the other system(s). According to Turchin and Josly ...

transitions (MST) from a computing machine ''M'' to a metamachine ''M' '' which controls, analyzes and imitates the work of ''M''.

Semantic Semantics (from grc, σημαντικός ''sēmantikós'', "significant") is the study of reference, meaning, or truth. The term can be used to refer to subfields of several distinct disciplines, including philosophy, linguistics and comput ...

s-based program transformation, such as partial evaluation and supercompilation (SCP), is metacomputation. Metasystem transitions may be repeated, as when a program transformer gets transformed itself. In this manner MST hierarchies of any height can be formed. The Fox paper reviews one strain of research which was started in

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eigh ...

by Valentin Turchin's

REFAL Refal ("Recursive functions algorithmic language"; russian: РЕФАЛ) "is a functional programming language oriented toward symbolic computations", including "string processing, language translation, ndartificial intelligence". It is one of th ...

system in the late 1960s-early 1970s and became known for the development of supercompilation as a distinct method of program transformation. After a brief description of the history of this research line, the paper concentrates on those results and problems where supercompilation is combined with repeated metasystem transitions.

External links

Papers on metacompilation

an introduction to supercompilation {{prog-lang-stub Compiler construction

See also

External links