# Building a Fortran compiler in pure Fortran (Mega thread) **URL:** \ **Category:** Language enhancement\ **Created:** [November 22, 2022, 4:20pm UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/building-a-fortran-compiler-in-pure-fortran-mega-thread/4785 "2022-11-22T16:20:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Aurelius\_Nero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@Aurelius\_Nero](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/Aurelius_Nero)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 4:20pm UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/building-a-fortran-compiler-in-pure-fortran-mega-thread/4785/1 "2022-11-22T16:20:07Z")
This thread is to continue the discussion from the following thread : > [@GFortran releases](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/gfortran-releases/2704/59): > > Here is a general article on the subject. In general, in our case it would mean one less language to master before being able to contribute to future compiler developments. Other benefits are that the tools that are developed to support the compiler can also be used for other unrelated projects. Other Links : > **[Brad Richardson / lets-build-a-compiler · GitLab](https://gitlab.com/everythingfunctional/lets-build-a-compiler)** > > Working through Jack W. Crenshaw's LET'S BUILD A COMPILER! https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLRAdsfhKI4OWNOSfS7EUu5GRAVmze1t2y&wmode=transparent&rel=0&autohide=1&showinfo=1&enablejsapi=1 [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/fortran_lang/original/2X/e/e06c5c4f1fa206f84bbb3373d83e73cfb04d90eb.jpeg "Write your own compiler in 24 hours by Phil Trelford") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E2tu3MqR24) Please feel free to participate. @RonShepard How would this affect interoperability with libraries and packages written in C for example ? How would one get around this ? ---
**Author:** ![everythingfunctional](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/fortran-lang.discourse.group/everythingfunctional/32/176_2.png) [@everythingfunctional](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/everythingfunctional)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 7:31pm UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/building-a-fortran-compiler-in-pure-fortran-mega-thread/4785/2 "2022-11-22T19:31:31Z")
> [@Aurelius\_Nero](#): > > How would this affect interoperability with libraries and packages written in C for example ? Presumably one would simply use the ABI/calling convention of an existing C compiler. GCC would probably be the conventional choice, but any would work so long as an implementation of the `CFI_Fortran_binding.h` header was made available. ---
**Author:** ![certik](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/fortran-lang.discourse.group/certik/32/4_2.png) [@certik](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/certik)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 10:49pm UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/building-a-fortran-compiler-in-pure-fortran-mega-thread/4785/3 "2022-11-22T22:49:27Z")
@Aurelius_Nero which part of the compiler do you want to write in Fortran? Here are the parts: - parser, - semantic analysis - optimizations on the intermediate representation - code generation to LLVM or even directly to machine code Some of it, all of it? If you want to have a pure Fortran frontend, you can for example generate LFortran’s intermediate representation (ASR) and reuse everything else. If you or anybody else is interested in discussing this, I am happy to have a phone call. I recommend we join forces. ---
**Author:** ![Aurelius\_Nero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@Aurelius\_Nero](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/Aurelius_Nero)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2022, 2:33am UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/building-a-fortran-compiler-in-pure-fortran-mega-thread/4785/4 "2022-11-23T02:33:00Z")
Given that I am still new to this, I would like to read up more before jumping in. I am happy to join forces with you. 1. I would start with the parser and semantic analysis. 2. I would like to see if it’s also possible to write SymEngine in pure Fortran as well. 3. Let me study up more on compilers and then we can arrange a call. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![certik](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/fortran-lang.discourse.group/certik/32/4_2.png) [@certik](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/certik)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2022, 2:48am UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/building-a-fortran-compiler-in-pure-fortran-mega-thread/4785/5 "2022-11-23T02:48:29Z")
For that, you need to rewrite the following files to pure Fortran: - Parser: [lfortran/src/lfortran/parser at bde41a5e6963f4698281e5e13977b4fcbd8684be · lfortran/lfortran · GitHub](https://github.com/lfortran/lfortran/tree/bde41a5e6963f4698281e5e13977b4fcbd8684be/src/lfortran/parser) - Semantic analysis: [lfortran/src/lfortran/semantics at bde41a5e6963f4698281e5e13977b4fcbd8684be · lfortran/lfortran · GitHub](https://github.com/lfortran/lfortran/tree/bde41a5e6963f4698281e5e13977b4fcbd8684be/src/lfortran/semantics) The current status is that the free-form parser and tokenizer and prescanner is probably “beta” quality (or close to it), the fixed-form tokenizer/prescanner is “alpha”, the C preprocessor is “alpha”. The semantics is almost “beta” for some subset (such as “Minpack”), “alpha” for others (such as “stdlib”) and a prototype for some other stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Carltoffel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/fortran-lang.discourse.group/carltoffel/32/1680_2.png) [@Carltoffel](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/Carltoffel)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2022, 7:24am UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/building-a-fortran-compiler-in-pure-fortran-mega-thread/4785/6 "2022-11-23T07:24:02Z")
The idea of writing a parser or tokenizer in Fortran isn’t new: > [@Libraries / tools needed for creating parsers](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/libraries-tools-needed-for-creating-parsers/4232): > > Seems to me what is needed is an agreed format for the list of tokens that comprise a bit of Fortran source. Diffing and some polishing (possibly live-in-editor) would then be done on that format. So, who is going to write a Fortran tokenizer in Fortran? I believe that there are many projects around Fortran that would benefit from a pure Fortran compiler, or at least parts of it. Perhaps it would be most appropriate to begin with these parts. If they turn out well, they can be used to build a whole compiler later. ---
**Author:** ![Aurelius\_Nero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@Aurelius\_Nero](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/Aurelius_Nero)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2022, 7:31am UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/building-a-fortran-compiler-in-pure-fortran-mega-thread/4785/7 "2022-11-23T07:31:43Z")
So I am heading down the right path then ? by picking the parser and semantic analysis first ? ---
**Author:** ![urbanjost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/0ea827/32.png) [@urbanjost](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/urbanjost)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2022, 12:10pm UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/building-a-fortran-compiler-in-pure-fortran-mega-thread/4785/8 "2022-11-23T12:10:57Z")
Perhaps a project to spin off this is a MIT-licensed Fortran version of the intrinsics. Any new compiler such as LFortran might benefit, users who find the intrinsics unsuitable would have a resource for starting a custom Fortran version and if they are developed sufficiently existing compilers which often are calling C functions) could make them available, just for starters. Unlike adding new procedures as in stdlib the interfaces are already designed, many old existing procedures exist (although the copyright status of many might be questionable or an issue). Recent discussions in this forum on the Bessel functions and sum() have shown the potential value. Back before C several vendors supplied in their manuals the intrinsics and implementations in Fortran in great detail. CDC, Cray, and IBM did this for starters. Not just the code but the descriptions were great examples for programmers, particularly before on-line resources were readily available. I still have a DIY collection of most of the intrinsics with range checking and other features added but the pedigree is such that those would not be suitable for release but there might be a number of them in netlib or other sources to start as seeds. If the descriptions of the development of the procedures as well as the code were available I think it would be a great resource, would be a terrific test bed for trying emerging features such as templating and parallel algorithms using coarrays, would be something Fortran only programmers could contribute to and would further several ongoing projects and potentially even existing compilers as well as the one described here. For a new programmer being able to see a trivial implementation of something like SUM() where you just loop through and add elements of the type you are interested in; and then some versions conditioning the data or correcting for accumulated error; and then seeing how that can be made generic; and then seeing a parallel version would have immense value in my opinion; and would contribute to this project as well. It seems to be the low-hanging fruit that has immediate value of its own. Personally, I think some of those old manuals were a terrific resource for learning about numeric methods and the perils of floating point operations that I sorely miss. Things like this were available from multiple sources … ```fortran :::::::::::::: src/dasin.f :::::::::::::: double precision function dasin (x) c may 1980 edition. w. fullerton, c3, los alamos scientific lab. double precision x, asincs(39), pi2, sqeps, y, z, dcsevl, 1 d1mach, dsqrt external d1mach, dcsevl, dsqrt, initds c c series for asin on the interval 0. to 5.00000e-01 c with weighted error 1.62e-32 c log weighted error 31.79 c significant figures required 30.67 c decimal places required 32.59 c data asincs( 1) / +.1024639175 3227159336 5731483057 85 d+0 / data asincs( 2) / +.5494648722 1245833306 0111959029 24 d-1 / data asincs( 3) / +.4080630392 5449692851 3070561492 46 d-2 / data asincs( 4) / +.4078900685 4604435455 5988239056 12 d-3 / data asincs( 5) / +.4698536743 2203691616 0485301362 18 d-4 / data asincs( 6) / +.5880975813 9708058986 4543855520 74 d-5 / ``` I think some of the old manuals might still be available in scanned form that might act as a model for documentation, and so on. How many people know of Fortran sources available under an open source for the intrinsics? The testing harnesses that would have to emerge by themselves would be an additional invaluable resource and example as well. ---
**Author:** ![Aurelius\_Nero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@Aurelius\_Nero](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/Aurelius_Nero)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2022, 12:43pm UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/building-a-fortran-compiler-in-pure-fortran-mega-thread/4785/9 "2022-11-23T12:43:35Z")
> [@urbanjost](#): > > I think some of the old manuals might still be available in scanned form that might act as a model for documentation, and so on. How many people know of Fortran sources available under an open source for the intrinsics? I could try looking for them. What do they look like ? or did they have particular names ? ---
**Author:** ![urbanjost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/0ea827/32.png) [@urbanjost](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/urbanjost)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2022, 2:05pm UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/building-a-fortran-compiler-in-pure-fortran-mega-thread/4785/10 "2022-11-23T14:05:03Z")
Cannot remember the names. Since many of the intrinsics were at least originally provided to allow operations otherwise not possible in pure Fortran, the mathematical functions are the easiest to attack. Recent additions to Fortran like optional arguments, class(\*), and generics make another set possible now that a user would have been hard pressed to create otherwise in the past. Well, interfacing to C is also a relatively newly standardized solution that good examples of would be useful for. At least for the forseeable future machine code is probably not where things want to go at least initially. I hope to check an internal library soon, as “we keep everything” is a local motto; but will probably not get a chance till next week to get some manual names that way. ---
**Author:** ![certik](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/fortran-lang.discourse.group/certik/32/4_2.png) [@certik](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/certik)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2022, 9:47am UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/building-a-fortran-compiler-in-pure-fortran-mega-thread/4785/11 "2022-11-25T09:47:40Z")
Yes, the runtime library should be maintained in Fortran, as we do in LFortran. There has to be a small C layer to interface with the system, and then a larger Fortran layer over that, implementing all of the ~200 intrinsic functions. You can use intrinsics that you already defined, but obviously you have to be careful to avoid cyclic dependencies. Some intrinsics are truly intrinsic, like `size` or `len`, which have to be implemented by the compiler itself, but many other intrinsics can be implemented as a library. If anyone wants to help with that, I am happy to make it a standalone project. See also [Fortran runtime math library](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/fortran-runtime-math-library/755), where I proposed to maintain Fortran versions of the intrinsic functions as a community, but back then it wasn’t received very enthusiastically, however I think based on this thread, that now is a better timing. ---
**Author:** ![RonShepard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@RonShepard](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/RonShepard)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2022, 5:56pm UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/building-a-fortran-compiler-in-pure-fortran-mega-thread/4785/12 "2022-11-25T17:56:59Z")
> [@certik](#): > > See also [Fortran runtime math library](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/fortran-runtime-math-library/755), where I proposed to maintain Fortran versions of the intrinsic functions as a community, but back then it wasn’t received very enthusiastically, however I think based on this thread, that now is a better timing. I think that is a good goal that would be supported by the fortran programmer community. I could contribute to this kind of project much easier than to a more complicated compiler project. ---
**Author:** ![Jcollins](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/fortran-lang.discourse.group/jcollins/32/540_2.png) [@Jcollins](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/Jcollins)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2022, 6:11pm UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/building-a-fortran-compiler-in-pure-fortran-mega-thread/4785/13 "2022-11-25T18:11:26Z")
We have some experience of writing compilers in Fortran. i. The entire MPS10 simulation language compiler was written in Fortran in 1982-3. This was a domain-specific language for real-time simulation on a small, highly specialised parallel computer. ii. We wrote the front-end of the ADSIM compiler in Fortran. Again, ADSIM is a domain-specific simulation language but with most of the syntax derived from Fortran. This in 1988. iii. fpt is written almost entirely in Fortran (There is a third-party c component for command-line editing and the Linux version calls realpath. All else is Fortran. fpt is under active development (Fortran keeps changing ;-). fpt contains all of the lexical and static semantic analyses of a full compiler, but the instruction selector is replaced by code to re-engineer and re-write the code. So it can, and mostly has been done. We have found almost nothing that we can’t do in modern Fortran Yet. ---
**Author:** ![Aurelius\_Nero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@Aurelius\_Nero](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/Aurelius_Nero)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2022, 6:12pm UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/building-a-fortran-compiler-in-pure-fortran-mega-thread/4785/14 "2022-11-25T18:12:26Z")
amazing 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![certik](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/fortran-lang.discourse.group/certik/32/4_2.png) [@certik](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/certik)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2022, 6:12pm UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/building-a-fortran-compiler-in-pure-fortran-mega-thread/4785/15 "2022-11-25T18:12:34Z")
The runtime library is here: [lfortran/src/runtime at main · lfortran/lfortran · GitHub](https://github.com/lfortran/lfortran/tree/main/src/runtime), for now anyone is welcome to contribute there. We can make it a separate project but we would still need to ensure it remains usable with LFortran, so that we can use it. The exact interface what is implemented directly in the compiler and what is a library function might change, so you will have to work with us. See also [How to contribute to LFortran's runtime library](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/how-to-contribute-to-lfortrans-runtime-library/4776), where we determined that the sqrt function should probably be moved from the library into the compiler. ---
**Author:** ![Jcollins](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/fortran-lang.discourse.group/jcollins/32/540_2.png) [@Jcollins](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/Jcollins)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2022, 3:52pm UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/building-a-fortran-compiler-in-pure-fortran-mega-thread/4785/16 "2022-11-29T15:52:49Z")
@Aurelius_Nero - I have tried to contact you through the forum to reply but my messages have failed. My e-mail address is [john.collins@simconglobal.com](mailto:john.collins@simconglobal.com). Please mail me to discuss fpt. John ---
**Author:** ![ivanpribec](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/fortran-lang.discourse.group/ivanpribec/32/3290_2.png) [@ivanpribec](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/ivanpribec)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 9:46pm UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/building-a-fortran-compiler-in-pure-fortran-mega-thread/4785/17 "2025-01-03T21:46:32Z")
Reviving this topic with a related find from Lawrence Radiation Laboratory (LRL) from 1964: > [LRL FORTRAN-FORTRAN (Technical Report) | OSTI.GOV](https://www.osti.gov/biblio/4079025) The abstract reads: > Investigation showed that the FORTRAN language is sufficiently machine independent to allow the FORTRAN compiler to be written in FORTRAN. The output of the resultant compiler is inherently machine independent and may be efficiently directed to other machines by a suitable translation or assembly process. The operation of the compiler is described. (D.C.W.) LRL is now known as Berkeley Lab. I found [a related report](https://search.library.berkeley.edu/permalink/01UCS_BER/s4lks2/cdi_untexas_digitalresource_info_ark_67531_metadc1254404) in the Berkeley Library catalogue, but only a tiny preview is visible without an account: > … FORTRAN written in FORTRAN. The impetus behind this study was a local need to move rapidly and efficiently from one machine to another… ---
**Author:** ![wspector](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/47e85d/32.png) [@wspector](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/wspector)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 11:49pm UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/building-a-fortran-compiler-in-pure-fortran-mega-thread/4785/18 "2025-01-03T23:49:57Z")
> [@ivanpribec](#): > > Reviving this topic with a related find from Lawrence Radiation Laboratory (LRL) from 1964: > > > [LRL FORTRAN-FORTRAN (Technical Report) | OSTI.GOV](https://www.osti.gov/biblio/4079025) I have a paper copy of the user documentation for the CIVIC compiler - which was the LRLTRAN compiler for the Cray machines. It has quite a few extensions to Fortran 77 - including a preprocessor facility, ways of defining/accessing data structures, pointers for based arrays/structures (which the Cray Pointer extension was taken from), a bit data type, and so on. The LRLTRAN compiler was written in itself. And much of the DOE LTSS and CTSS time sharing systems were written in LRLTRAN. One of the many things I need to see if Al Kossow can scan for bitsavers - before my wife throws it all in a dumpster… ---
**Author:** ![Beliavsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@Beliavsky](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/Beliavsky)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 12:16pm UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/building-a-fortran-compiler-in-pure-fortran-mega-thread/4785/19 "2025-02-19T12:16:23Z")
A current project is > **[GitHub - Verlio-H/urclfortran: A WIP modern fortran compiler](https://github.com/Verlio-H/urclfortran)** > > A WIP modern fortran compiler ---
**Author:** ![ivanpribec](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/fortran-lang.discourse.group/ivanpribec/32/3290_2.png) [@ivanpribec](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/ivanpribec)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 9:59pm UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/building-a-fortran-compiler-in-pure-fortran-mega-thread/4785/20 "2025-02-19T21:59:02Z")
In case anyone was left wondering what URCL is the author going by the alias ModPunchTree has a YouTube video: [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/fortran_lang/original/2X/8/8f6bfa04bed69fec27bfb739f92ce8c0b1b16aec.jpeg "What is URCL ??? (Programming Language)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7qcns4K344) I was very surprised to discover that people build virtual CPUs in Minecraft ([Tutorials/Redstone computers – Minecraft Wiki](https://minecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Tutorials/Redstone_computers)) and ModPunchTree has also built one: [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/fortran_lang/original/2X/3/32cbf09893a0b820b4348affc76013b6620d7f2c.jpeg "I made full color Minecraft in Minecraft with redstone!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvm6N4zj1OM) Putting on my detective hat and connecting the dots it looks like Verlio-H is planning to run Fortran on a Minecraft CPU. 🕶 Ideally even the compiler will run in Minecraft. 🕶 🔥 …I though that my Fortran [CHIP8](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/fortran-chip-8-interpreter/6772) emulator was a wacky project. [Next page](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/building-a-fortran-compiler-in-pure-fortran-mega-thread/4785.md?page=2)