== Goal A memory-safe language with a simple translator to x86 that can be feasibly written in x86. == Definitions of terms Memory-safe: it should be impossible to: a) create a pointer out of arbitrary data, or b) to access heap memory after it's been freed. Simple: do all the work in a 2-pass translator: Pass 1: check each instruction's types in isolation. Pass 2: emit code for each instruction in isolation. == types int char (address _ stack|heap|global) (array _ n) # on stack or global (ref _) (ref array _) # by definition always on the heap addresses to global can be saved and manipulated as usual addresses on stack can't be saved to heap addresses on heap can't be saved to global (use ref) addresses to stack or heap can't be included in compound types or used across a call or used across a label : (address T stack|global) <- advance : (array T), : (index T) : (address T heap) <- advance * : (ref array T), : (index T) arrays require a size (ref array _) may not include a size Arguments of type 'address' are required to be on the stack or global. Can't be on the heap. So we need duplication for address and ref arguments? Argv has type (array (address (array char) global)) variables on stack, heap and global are references. The name points at the address. Use '*' to get at the value.