What is OCaml written in?
OCaml is an extension of the Caml programming language, first released in 1996.
Implementation
| Layer | Written in | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Runtime | C (since 1996) | OCaml runtime/GC written in C |
| Compiler | OCaml (since 1996) | OCaml compiler is self-hosting |
| Runtime | Assembly (since 1996) | OCaml runtime has assembly components |
Self-hosting
OCaml is a self-hosting language: its compiler is written in OCaml itself. Self-hosting means the compiler can compile its own source code, which is a milestone in a language's maturity. New versions of the compiler are built using an older version of the same compiler, a process called bootstrapping.
Self-hosting also acts as a practical stress test: if a language can compile its own compiler, most core language features have been validated in a complex, real-world workload. See what is compiler bootstrapping for a full explanation.
Explore in the Graph
See OCaml's full lineage, including all implementation and influence relationships, in the interactive graph.
Open Interactive Graph →Or view the OCaml language page for the complete record.