As far as I understand it:
1. The optimizing compiler (written in Factor) generates raw machine code
that is saved in an "image file":
http://docs.factorcode.org/content/article-images.html (more about the
voodoo of bootstrapping image files:
http://factor-language.blogspot.com/2010/01/factors-bootstrap-process-explained.html
)
2. The VM's job is to load & execute the image file contents, along with
handling primitve stuff like garbage collection. When installing Factor,
you'll compile the C++ VM into a binary on your machine (check out the
Makefile: https://github.com/slavapestov/factor/blob/master/GNUmakefile).
3. To generate a standalone executable, you use the tools.deploy
vocabulary: http://docs.factorcode.org/content/article-tools.deploy.html
This creates a binary by embedding the image file of your compiled code
into the compiled VM executable. I'm fuzzy on the details, but it seems to
just straight-up copy the contents of the binary image file into a "magic"
spot where the VM executable will know to look:
https://github.com/slavapestov/factor/blob/fe2c2d23de9e300d7cd1b04e139dfbdd2069d00a/vm/image.hpp
&
https://github.com/slavapestov/factor/blob/master/basis/tools/deploy/embed/embed.factor
The deploy tool does some other fancy stuff, like trying to minimize the
total image size using the "shaker":
http://factor-language.blogspot.com/2007/06/generating-minimal-images-deploying.html
So, short answer: Factor's standalone executables are copies of the VM
executable (itself fairly small) + your compiled code.
Hope that helps,
--Alex Vondrak
On Sat, Feb 28, 2015 at 2:15 PM, <relm...@rambler.ru> wrote:
> Hello! I'm very interested in Factor. I don't quite understand how
> Factor's native code compiler works, so I'd like to ask some questions
> about it. Can factor code run on bare metal (without operating system)? How
> does the compiler generate standalone executables? Factor has a VM code
> written in C++, how does the compiler links C++ code with compiled Factor
> code? Or the VM is only used in Factor's interactive tools and all the code
> that gets compiled into standalone executable is written in Factor? If so
> how is low level stuff like GC can be implemented in Factor code?
>
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