[Info-vax] VMS Software needs to port VAX DIBOL to OpenVMS X86 platform

[Arne Vajhøj]

On 1/5/2021 1:51 AM, Tim Sneddon wrote:
> Rich Alderson <news at alderson.users.panix.com> wrote:
>> As I remember the book on the VAX (VMS) port, the goal was very much to
>> "emulate" (implement) IBM PL/I, so I doubt that there would be that much
>> effort for any implementation with the same goal...
> 
> I don't think so.  DEC PL/I was a port of the PL/I compiler developed by
> Robert Freibourghouse.  The DEC team even ported it off of a Multics
> system.  The real target was ANSI Subset G (general purpose) PL/I as
> I understand it.
> 
> The book I am guessing everyone is talking about is Engeneering a Compiler:
> VAX-11 Code Generation.  It really covers the development of a VAX backend
> and very little about the PL/I language itself.  The Epilogue also discusses
> the fact the backend was reused for VAX C as well as Pearl and likely
> another language.  It was also used for SCAN (although I think that came
> after the book).

I am not sure that being used by VAX C is a good thing.

As I remember it then VAX C was the only DEC compiler where it was
common to turn off optimization to get code working.

Arne