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Everything about Copy-and-patch

Compiler technique

In computing, copy-and-patch compilation is a simple compiler technique intended for just-in-time compilation that uses pattern matching to match pre-generated templates to parts of an abstract syntax tree (AST) or bytecode stream, and emit corresponding pre-written machine code fragments that are then patched to insert memory addresses, register addresses, constants and other parameters to produce executable code. Code not matched by templates can be either be interpreted in the normal way, or code created to directly call interpreter code. Wikipedia →

🧭 Start here: a 6-step reading path

  1. Read the overview: Copy-and-patchA 5-minute orientation
  2. Pick up a classic book: Intelligence BulletinThe most-reprinted book on the subject
  3. Read the landmark paper: Copy-and-patch compilation: a fast compilation algorithm for high-level languages and bytecodeCited 28 times
  4. Go sideways: Just-in-time compilationA closely related topic
  5. Go sideways: Tracing just-in-time compilationA closely related topic

📖 Definitions

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🗂️ The subject at a glance

  1. Compilation

🏆 Landmark papers (most cited)

📚 Books worth reading

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