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docs/Writing-the-Cyclone-Scheme-Compiler.md
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# Writing the Cyclone Scheme Compiler # Writing the Cyclone Scheme Compiler
###### by [Justin Ethier](https://github.com/justinethier)
This document covers some of the background on how Cyclone was written, including aspects of the compiler and runtime system. This document covers some of the background on how Cyclone was written, including aspects of the compiler and runtime system.
Before we get started, I want to say Thank You to everyone that has contributed to the Scheme community. At the end of this document is a list of online resources that were the most helpful and influential in writing Cyclone. Without quality Scheme resources like these it would not have been possible to write Cyclone. Before we get started, I want to say Thank You to everyone that has contributed to the Scheme community. At the end of this document is a list of online resources that were the most helpful and influential in writing Cyclone. Without quality Scheme resources like these it would not have been possible to write Cyclone.
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The compiler's code generation phase takes a single pass over the transformed Scheme code and outputs C code to the current output port (usually a `.c` file). The compiler's code generation phase takes a single pass over the transformed Scheme code and outputs C code to the current output port (usually a `.c` file).
During this phase C code is sometimes returned as a string instead of being output directly. For example, when compiling a vector literal or a series of function arguments. In this case, the code is returned as a list that separates variable declarations from C code in the "body" of the generated function. During this phase C code is sometimes returned for later use instead of being output directly. For example, when compiling a vector literal or a series of function arguments. In this case, the code is returned as a list of strings that separates variable declarations from C code in the "body" of the generated function.
The C code is carefully generated so that a Scheme library (`.sld` file) is compiled into a C module. Functions/variables exported from the library become C globals in the generated code. The C code is carefully generated so that a Scheme library (`.sld` file) is compiled into a C module. Functions and variables exported from the library become C globals in the generated code.
## C Runtime ## C Runtime
A runtime based on Henry Baker's paper [CONS Should Not CONS Its Arguments, Part II: Cheney on the M.T.A.](http://www.pipeline.com/~hbaker1/CheneyMTA.html) was used as it allows for fast code that meets all of the fundamental requirements for a Scheme runtime: tail calls, garbage collection, and continuations. A runtime based on Henry Baker's paper [CONS Should Not CONS Its Arguments, Part II: Cheney on the M.T.A.](http://www.pipeline.com/~hbaker1/CheneyMTA.html) was used as it allows for fast code that meets all of the fundamental requirements for a Scheme runtime: tail calls, garbage collection, and continuations.
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## Scheme Standards ## Scheme Standards
Cyclone targets the R<sup>7</sup>RS-small specification. This spec is relatively new and provides incremental improvements from the popular R<sup>5</sup>RS spec. Library (C module) support is the most important but there are also exceptions, system interfaces, and a more consistent API. Cyclone targets the [R<sup>7</sup>RS-small specification](https://github.com/justinethier/cyclone/raw/master/docs/r7rs.pdf). This spec is relatively new and provides incremental improvements from the popular R<sup>5</sup>RS spec. Library (C module) support is the most important but there are also exceptions, system interfaces, and a more consistent API.
## Future ## Future