QBE – a new compiler back end
QBE – a new compiler back end launched on April 23, 2016 with 241 votes, #81 of 4,301 launches that month and more than 95% of that year's launches. The site was still online in September 2026, 10 years on.
In plain words
QBE is a compiler backend designed to deliver substantial performance comparable to larger optimizing compilers while maintaining a minimal codebase. It targets language developers and compiler creators seeking an accessible, compact backend that prioritizes essential features and practical optimizations. QBE emphasizes simplicity and ease of modification through its hobby-scale C codebase, while still providing meaningful performance improvements and support for integration with external systems.
written from the facts on this page · September 2026
From the sources
QBE is a compiler backend that aims to provide 70% of the performance of industrial optimizing compilers in 10% of the code. QBE fosters language innovation by offering a compact user-friendly and performant backend. The size limit constrains QBE to focus on the essential and prevents embarking on a never-ending path of diminishing returns. The C codebase of QBE is intended to remain hobby-scale and pleasant to hack on. Despite the small footprint, QBE provides a number of optimizations with good impact/weight ratio. It also facilitates integration with foreign systems by implementing the C ABI in full. This means that programs compiled by QBE can trivially call into C, and vice versa. The…from c9x.me
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