Package org.ek9lang.compiler.backend

package org.ek9lang.compiler.backend
Backend Code Generation - Target-specific code generation infrastructure.

This package defines the abstraction layer for code generation backends. EK9 supports multiple target architectures through a common IR representation that is then translated to target-specific code.

Dual-Backend Architecture:

  • JVM Backend - Java bytecode generation for enterprise compatibility (org.ek9lang.compiler.backend.jvm)
  • LLVM Backend - Native compilation for performance-critical systems (separate development branch)

Key Abstractions:

The backend processes IR generated in Phase 10 and produces target-specific output during Phases 13-15 (CODE_GENERATION_PREPARATION, CODE_GENERATION_AGGREGATES, CODE_GENERATION_CONSTANTS).

  • Class
    Description
    ConstructTargetTuple
    A given construct from a specific source should be output to the targetFile.
    IMainEntryVisitor
    Interface for main entry point visitors that generate target-specific main entry points for EK9 programs (e.g., main methods for JVM, main functions for native binaries).
    MainEntryTargetTuple
    Contains all the information needed for target-specific visitors to generate main entry points.
    MainEntryVisitorLocator
    Locates the appropriate main entry visitor for the appropriate target architecture.
    OutputFileLocator
    Given a TargetArchitecture from the configFlags, this function will provide a function that creates (if not present) and returns the File for a Construct.
    OutputVisitorLocator
    Locates the appropriate IR node visitor for the appropriate target architecture.
    Target
    The target platform/technology for the compiler output.
    TargetLocator
    Given a TargetArchitecture, this function will provide the Target for it.