4 ms·
Compilers aren't a complete - or even representative - sample of source code that they are capable of compiling. If a bad output only manifests with source cod
by infogulch 7y ago
Compilers aren't a complete - or even representative - sample of source code that they are capable of compiling. If a bad output only manifests with source code that is valid but is not present in the self-hosted compiler's own source code, then this method will never find it.
- _bxg1 7y agoI acknowledged that already. It wouldn't be a comprehensive test, just a novel one that wouldn't rely on there being another compiler available for the same language.
- Dylan16807 7y agoThe drifting you describe would pretty much never happen. The chance of outputting wrong code that affects self-compilation without breaking self-compilation, that then repeats? Very very small. And the compiler's already being used to compile itself all the time, so you're also testing some of the most-tested code.