Dev tools · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to A compiler and VM for a simple language, in 150 lines of code

A complete compiler for a simple language (in less than 150 LoC) - 00_readme.md

This is a compiler and virtual machine implementation for a simple programming language, written in just 150 lines of code. It's designed for developers interested in learning how compilers and VMs work or for those… Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. A compiler and VM for a simple language, in 150 lines of code launched in 2022; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1
A complete compiler for a simple language (less than 150 LoC of OCaml)▲7
A complete compiler for a simple language (in less than 150 LoC) - 00_readme.md
2021 · gist.github.com · its alternatives →
2
Simple virtual machine, assembler, and C compiler▲99
simple virtual machine and assembler. Contribute to ronsoros/rvm development by creating an account on GitHub.
2016 · github.com · its alternatives →
3
A small virtual machine written in C▲212
"interesting" VM in C. Let's see how this goes. Contribute to tekknolagi/carp development by creating an account on GitHub.
2014 · github.com · its alternatives →
4
I wrote a VM and Compiler for a small language in Go▲37
My implementation of Thorsten Bell's book (Writing an Interpreter in Go) - actuallyachraf/monkey-giggle
2020 · github.com · its alternatives →
5
How to write a tiny compiler▲224
Write your own compiler: introduction. Code genetation. AST. Abstract syntax tree. lisp. javascript.
2017 · blog.klipse.tech · its alternatives →
6
Ultra Tiny Compiler in less than 90 lines of code▲61
Ultra Tiny Compiler. Contribute to antonmedv/ultra-tiny-compiler development by creating an account on GitHub.
2016 · github.com · its alternatives →
7
TinyGo – LLVM-based Go compiler for microcontrollers▲177
Go compiler for small places. Microcontrollers, WebAssembly (WASM/WASI), and command-line tools. Based on LLVM. - tinygo-org/tinygo
2018 · github.com · its alternatives →
8
A minimal stack based VM in C▲60
A minimal stack-based VM. Contribute to codr7/liblg development by creating an account on GitHub.
2020 · github.com · its alternatives →
9
A work-in-progress C compiler from scratch▲159
Programming language that compiles into a x86 ELF executable. - riicchhaarrd/ocean
2021 · github.com · its alternatives →
10
“Nim in Action” is now available▲181
The Nim programming language is a concise, fast programming language that compiles to C, C++ and JavaScript.
2016 · nim-lang.org · its alternatives →
11
A compiler for a small language into x86-64 assembly▲74
Compiler for a small language into x86-64 Assembly - MauriceGit/compiler
2020 · github.com · its alternatives →
12
AVR-VM – VM with JIT-compiler for ATMega32 written in Rust▲78
VM with JIT-compiler for ATMega32 written in Rust. Contribute to MackieLoeffel/avr-vm development by creating an account on GitHub.
2017 · github.com · its alternatives →
13
Solid, a scripting language with a tiny VM▲63
A minimalist interpreted language, with a clean object model and a tiny VM. - chameco/Solid
2013 · github.com · its alternatives →
14
A self-hosted js compiler in 1k loc▲47
Minimal self-hosted JavaScript compiler in 1k lines of code - maierfelix/mini-js
2017 · github.com · its alternatives →
15
I spent my vacation writing a modern JVM assembler▲218
A JVM assembler for the modern age. Contribute to roscopeco/jasm development by creating an account on GitHub.
2022 · github.com · its alternatives →
16
Nibble▲102
An attempt at a single pass LLVM frontend in ~3000 lines of C without external dependencies, malloc, or an AST. Included are some graphical examples. The IR isn't perfect, and the README touches on one particular downfall
May 2026 · github.com · its alternatives →
17
Kent Dybvig's Scheme Machine in 400 Lines of C (Heap-Memory Model)▲226
Heap based scheme machine. GitHub Gist: instantly share code, notes, and snippets.
2025 · gist.github.com · its alternatives →
18
Micro-mitten – Research language with compile-time memory management▲236
I've been working on implementing the compile-time approach to memory management described in this thesis (https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/techreports/UCAM-CL-TR-908.pdf) for some time now - some of the performance results look promising! (Although some less so...) I think it would be great to see this taken further and built into a more complete functional language.
2020 · github.com · its alternatives →
19
The V Programming Language▲5
Simple, fast, safe, compiled language
2019 · vlang.io · its alternatives →
20SH
Simplexhc – Haskell to LLVM compiler (design phase)▲55
2017 · pixel-druid.com · its alternatives →
21
Pascal to LLVM Compiler in Haskell▲61
A Pascal to LLVM compiler in Haskell . Contribute to sam46/Paskell development by creating an account on GitHub.
2020 · github.com · its alternatives →
22
A readable macroassembler for .NET that no one asked for▲67
Readable macroassembler for CLR IL. Contribute to akalenuk/milasm development by creating an account on GitHub.
2023 · github.com · its alternatives →
23
myCompiler▲122
Run your favourite programming languages online
2019 · mycompiler.io · its alternatives →
24
Tiny VM sandbox in C with apps in Rust, C and Zig▲196
Minimalist, dependency-free virtual machine sandbox for microcontrollers and other resource-constrained devices. Single C file, no dynamic memory allocations, asynchronous design, pure C99 - ringtailsoftware/uvm32
Dec 2025 · github.com · its alternatives →

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