Program Representation Size in an Intermediate Language with Intersection and Union Types

Abstract. The CIL compiler for core Standard ML compiles whole programs using a novel typed intermediate language (TIL) with intersection and union types and flow labels on both terms and types. The CIL term representation duplicates portions of the program where intersection types are introduced and union types are eliminated. This duplication makes it easier to represent type information and to introduce customized data representations. However, duplication incurs compiletime space costs that are potentially much greater than are incurred in loying type-level abstraction or quantification. In this paper, we present empirical data on the compile-time space costs of using CIL as an intermediate language. The data shows that these costs can be made tractable by using sufficiently fine-grained flow analyses together with standard hash-consing techniques. The data also suggests that nonduplicating formulations of intersection (and union) types would not achieve significantly better space ...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2000
• Where: TIC
• Authors: Allyn Dimock, Ian Westmacott, Robert Muller, Franklyn A. Turbak, J. B. Wells, Jeffrey Considine
• Keywords: Intermediate Language, Space Costs, System Software, TIC 2000, Union Types