D-

[Zachary Lund]

On 02/10/2012 01:02 PM, Tim Krimm wrote:
> We have C and C++
>
> How about D- and D?
>
> D- would be the have a similar use as today's C compilers.
>
> ===========================
> Why create this language?
> ===========================
>
> Well I would love to have a D compiler that supports microcontrollers.
> The ones that have say 32 K of RAM and 64K of FLASH.
> A language that is targeted for embedded and/or low resource environments.
> It would be nice to have a modern language for low resource environments.
>
> A potential way to implement this language is to use the DMD frontend,
> then flag the unsupported features of D,
> Next create a backend, like "C front" that outputs C code instead of
> assembler.
>
>
> ===========================
> What do I envision with D-,
> D-- or Dm or what ever you want to call it.
> ===========================
>
> This language would basically be D without the garbage collection.
> For example there would be structures but no classes.
> There would be regular arrays but no dynamic arrays.
> Code that is mostly equivalent to C, but you would still have structures
> with functions and overloading support,
> and other features like templates etc.
>
> I think you get the idea.
>
> What are your thoughts?

I would love this as well. I *think* you wouldn't have to recreate the 
language, just recreate the runtime. You can currently use D and can 
completely avoid the use of the GC by just using static functions. From 
what I understand, dynamic arrays are also controlled and provided 
through the runtime. You can also export C symbols if you wanted to.