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Co-dfns Live Stream: Compiler Design and Architecture

Aaron Hsu (arcfide) · talk · Watch on YouTube

Compilers, interpreters & program analysisProgramming language design

What it is

A two-hour live stream in which Aaron Hsu explains the architecture, design history and aesthetic of Co-dfns, his parallel APL compiler. He walks through the code and the reasoning behind its dense style.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN readers say it changed their view of APL and array languages, with a clear walkthrough of how a compiler can be written in this style.

  • 3 people recommended it
  • 5 different months
  • 4 strong recommendations
  • first 2018, last 2025

What HN commenters said

  1. “I'd highly recommend, if you have the time, to listen to the author explaining the code for the compiler”

    Author explains the Co-dfns parallel APL compiler code

    Nadya, 2018-02 · Strong recommendation · in “Common combinators in JavaScript”

  2. “Nothing has ever convinced me about the potential for array languages in practice quite like watching Aaron Hsu”

    Hsu develops parallel APL compiler using two Notepad windows

    refset, 2024-01 · Strong recommendation · in “Thinking in an array language”

  3. “I remember being floored by APL few months ago when I learned about co-dnfs and watched the stream by Aaron Hsu”

    Aaron Hsu stream on readable APL code

    a-saleh, 2018-05 · Recommendation · in “APL deserves its renaissance too”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: apl, co-dfns, compilers, array languages, parallel programming

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