GNU lightning

GNU lightning is a free software library that generates assembly language code at run-time. Supported backends are SPARC (32-bit), x86 (32- and 64-bit) and PowerPC (32-bit). An ARM port is under way^[2].

Advantages Over Other Libraries

The features GNU lightning provides make it useful for just-in-time compiler applications. As opposed to libraries such as LLVM or libJIT, it only provides a low-level interface that assembles a standardized RISC architecture loosely based on the SPARC and MIPS^[3] into the target architecture's machine language.

Disadvantages

It does not provide register allocation, data-flow, and control-flow analysis, or optimization.

Projects that use GNU Lightning

Racket, GNU Smalltalk, and CLISP^[4] make use of GNU lightning for just-in-time compilation.

References

1. ^ "ChangeLog". GNU Project. http://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/lightning/. Retrieved 2009-02-22. 
2. ^ Message stating start of work of ARM port
3. ^ "Using and porting GNU lightning". http://www.gnu.org/software/lightning/manual/lightning.html. Retrieved 2009-02-22. 
4. ^ "Implementation notes for GNU CLISP". http://clisp.cons.org/impnotes.html. Retrieved 2009-02-23. 

External links

• Using and porting GNU lightning