4.1 Compiler Introduction
This chapter contains information about the compiler that every CMUCL user
should be familiar with. Chapter advanced-compiler goes into greater
depth, describing ways to use more advanced features.
The CMUCL compiler (also known as Python, not to be confused
with the programming language of the same name) has many features
that are seldom or never supported by conventional Common Lisp
compilers:
- Source level debugging of compiled code (see chapter
debugger.)
- Type error compiler warnings for type errors detectable at
compile time.
- Compiler error messages that provide a good indication of where
the error appeared in the source.
- Full run-time checking of all potential type errors, with
optimization of type checks to minimize the cost.
- Scheme-like features such as proper tail recursion and extensive
source-level optimization.
- Advanced tuning and optimization features such as comprehensive
efficiency notes, flow analysis, and untagged number representations
(see chapter advanced-compiler.)