> From what I understand, the definition of a transpiler is one which almost exclusively performs syntax-syntax transforms, and doesn't delve into the semantics

> From what I understand, the definition of a transpiler is one which almost exclusively performs syntax-syntax transforms, and doesn't delve into the semantics with e.g. dataflow or control flow. I suggest you read the other article from the same author, linked at the beginning of this article: http://composition.al/blog/2017/07/30/what-do-people-mean-when-they-say-transpiler/ http://composition.al/blog/2017/07/30/what-do-people-mean-wh... . You will see that there is no such thing as "the definition of a transpiler".