What is B written in?
It bootstraps via BCPL.
B is a procedural programming language, first released in 1969.
Implementation
| Layer | Written in | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bootstrap | BCPL (since 1969) | B compiler bootstrapped using BCPL |
Bootstrap chain
Bootstrapping is the process of using a language's own compiler to compile a new version of itself. The very first compiler must be written in another language; once functional, that compiler can compile a self-hosted version. B uses BCPL as part of its bootstrap chain.
See the guide on what is compiler bootstrapping for a walkthrough of how bootstrap chains work in practice.
Explore in the Graph
See B's full lineage, including all implementation and influence relationships, in the interactive graph.
Open Interactive Graph →Or view the B language page for the complete record.