Comment by lateforwork
6 days ago
Are you concerned that the compiler might generate code that takes over your computer? If so the provided Dockerfile runs the generated code in a container.
Regarding test coverage, this is a toy compiler. Don't use it to compile production code! Regarding while loops and such, again, this is a simple compiler intended only to compile sort and search functions written in C.
No, the problem is much more basic than "taking over your computer," it looks like the compiler generates incorrect assembly. Upon visual inspection I found a huge class of infinite loops, but I am sure there are subtle bugs that can corrupt running user/OS processes... including Docker, potentially. Containerization does not protect you from sloppy native code.
> Don't use it to compile production code!
This is an understatement. A more useful warning would be "don't use it to compile any code with a while loop." Seriously, this compiler looks terrible. Worse than useless.
If you really want AI to make a toy compiler just to help you learn, use Python or Javascript as a compilation target, so that the LLM's dumb bugs are mostly contained, and much easier to understand. Learn assembly programming separately.
You have not provided any evidence that can be refuted, only vague assertions.
The compiler is indeed useless for any purpose other than learning how compilers work. It has all the key pieces such as a lexer, abstract syntax tree, parser, code generator, and it is easy to understand.
If the general approach taken by the compiler is wrong then I would agree it is useless even for learning. But you are not making that claim, only claiming to have found some bugs.
The thing that is obviously and indisputably wrong, terrible for learners, is the test cases. They are woefully insufficient, and will not find those infinite loops I discovered upon reading the code. The poor test coverage means you should assume I am correct about the LLM being wrong! It is rude and insulting to demand I provide evidence that some lazy vibe-coded junk is in fact bad software. You should be demanding evidence that the project's README is accurate. The repo provides none.
The code quality is of course unacceptably terrible but there is no point in reviewing 1500 lines of LLM output. A starting point: learners will get nothing out of this without better comments. I understand what's going on since this is all Compilers 101. But considering it's a) stingily commented and b) incorrect, this project is 100% useless for learners. It's indefensible AI slop.
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