What is Standard ML written in?
Standard ML is a programming language, first released in 1983.
Implementation
| Layer | Written in | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Compiler | Standard ML (since 1990) | SML/NJ is self-hosting |
Self-hosting
Standard ML is a self-hosting language: its compiler is written in Standard ML 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 Standard ML's full lineage, including all implementation and influence relationships, in the interactive graph.
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