The paper gives a classification of methods for producing translators, interpreters, and macroprocessors using source language, written language, and object language as characteristics. Possible configurations of these characteristics are discussed and documented with examples.The paper starts with definitions of the terms used. It then presents the tools that are used for the description. These are the so-called T-diagrams, which are used to describe translators and interpreters, and some kind of flow-charts, indicating the steps in the production of a translator or interpreter from a given configuration to a final product.The next chapters of the paper give the classification of the possible and meaningful elementary configurations. Important and well known special cases are mentioned with examples. Further it is shown how these elementary cases are combined to a whole implementation system. Especially mentioned is self-compilation. The final section gives some examples of actual implementation systems and their evaluation.

SUlMlMARYSelf-compiling compilers are compilers written in the programming language they are made to compile. They constitute a very interesting case of portable programs, and are rapidly gaining in popularity. This paper is an attempt to classify and evaluate the different methods which have been used for writing and transporting such compilers, according to numerous and various criteria. The potential implementor is then given an idea of the important factors to be considered when selecting one of the many implementation methods available. The study is centred around a specific case, the programming language Pascal and its many compilers.

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