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

[Tim Sneddon]

Dennis Boone <drb at ihatespam.msu.edu> wrote:
>  > Funny you should mention that as both the Prime compiler and the DEC
>  > compiler shared the same front-end and IR.
> 
> I'd be interested to hear more about the origins of the Prime compiler.
>

The front-end for most non-IBM PL/I compilers was developed by Robert
Freiburghouse.  He had previously been a part of the Multics project
and was involved in their v1 and v2 PL/I compilers.  He left Multics
and set up his own company, Translation Systems that developed a PL/I
compiler and then using the same IR and toolset developed compilers
for Pascal, Fortran and BASIC.

Tom Linden had his own compiler company (Language Processors, IIRC) which
purchased Translation Systems. Tom was already a reseller and had developed
Pascal and COBOL compilers using the same technology.

Prime (as well as DEC, etc.) licensed the source and either engaged
Translation Systems/Language Processors to write the backend or did
it themselves. I have some printed listings of the Prime backend
(Phase 3) in my shed.

Stratus (also of Multics heritage) used the same toolset to develop
a C compiler.  At least, I'm pretty sure they developed their own.

Regards, Tim.