Talk:Amsterdam Compiler Kit

Latest comment: 15 years ago by Mecanismo in topic Information regarding EM

VUCK

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I believe this software is a descendent of VUCK mentioned in "The GNU Project" [1] by Richard Stallman. Quoting:

Shortly before beginning the GNU project, I heard about the Free University Compiler Kit, also known as VUCK. (The Dutch word for "free" is written with a V.) This was a compiler designed to handle multiple languages, including C and Pascal, and to support multiple target machines. I wrote to its author asking if GNU could use it. He responded derisively, stating that the university was free but the compiler was not.

This would be an interesting historic anecdote to mention in the article, but I can't find the definitive source. If I am right, "Free University" would be Vrije Universiteit, whose alternative name is "Free University of Amsterdam". Sanxiyn 06:14, 20 August 2007 (UTC)Reply

Yes - I can confirm that the original name VUCK was a bacronym from Vrije Universiteit Compiler Kit and the name was changed under pressure from university authorities because 'V' in Dutch is pronounced as 'F' in English. (Vrij is pronounced 'free' for example). It was clearly originally named as a joke, which I don't think the University found funny when the compiler became popular and well known.
I can't decide which historical anecdote I find more interesting: The fact that the GNU project was partly inspired by a derisive response from the original author of the Amsterdam Compiler Kit, or that the Amsterdam Compiler Kit was originally called FUCK (Free University Compiler Kit). Jaap Joris Vens 2021-10-19

Information regarding EM

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As the article had a lot of information regarding EM and there wasn't any article on that subject, I've created EM intermediate language and moved into it a portion of the info contained in this article. Please expand it, as it's an interesting subject --Mecanismo | Talk 19:09, 1 March 2009 (UTC)Reply