What is ML written in?
The ML runtime is written in C.
ML is a functional programming language, first released in 1973.
Implementation
| Layer | Written in | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Runtime | C (since 1984) | Standard ML of New Jersey (SML/NJ) runtime written in C |
Runtime model
The ML runtime, written in C, manages the execution of ML programs. Runtime-based languages rely on a host process to interpret or compile code at runtime rather than compiling entirely ahead-of-time to native machine code. This means running ML programs requires the runtime to be present on the target system.
The choice of C for the runtime gives ML access to native performance, established platform abstractions, and existing ecosystem libraries.
Explore in the Graph
See ML's full lineage, including all implementation and influence relationships, in the interactive graph.
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