Tiny C Compiler VS flat assembler

• Fast Compilation
  Tiny C Compiler (TCC) is known for its incredibly fast compilation speed, which makes it ideal for quick compilations and testing.
• Small Size
  TCC has a very small footprint compared to other compilers, making it easy to include in applications and use in environments with limited resources.
• C99 Support
  TCC provides support for the C99 standard, allowing the use of newer C language features.
• Dynamic Code Generation
  TCC can compile and execute code dynamically, which can be useful for scripting or embedded contexts.
• Simplified Licensing
  Under the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL), TCC can be more easily used in various projects, including proprietary ones, compared to compilers with more restrictive licenses.

Possible disadvantages

• Limited Optimization
  TCC does not perform extensive optimization, which can result in less efficient executable code compared to compilers like GCC or Clang.
• Incomplete C Standard Library
  TCC's standard C library implementation is not as complete as those of more established compilers, which might lead to compatibility issues.
• Lack of Detailed Documentation
  Users may find the available documentation lacking in detail, which can hinder learning and debugging for complex projects.
• Limited Platform Support
  TCC is primarily designed for smaller-scale applications and lacks some platform-specific and cross-compilation capabilities.
• Fewer Community Resources
  Compared to major compilers like GCC or Clang, TCC has a smaller user community, which can mean fewer tutorials, forums, and third-party support tools.

• Size and Speed
  Flat Assembler (FASM) is known for its small size and fast execution, making it an excellent choice for developers looking for efficiency in both development and runtime.
• Low-Level Control
  FASM provides developers with in-depth control over the hardware, allowing for optimization and manipulation at a granular level, which can be critical for performance-sensitive applications.
• Cross-Platform Capabilities
  FASM supports multiple platforms, enabling developers to write assembly code that can be compiled on different operating systems without significant changes.
• Integrated Assembler and IDE
  It comes with an integrated development environment that simplifies assembling and linking processes, which can enhance productivity.
• Extensive Documentation
  The assembler is well-documented with comprehensive guides, reducing the learning curve for new users and providing valuable resources for advanced programming.

Possible disadvantages

• Learning Curve
  FASM requires a good understanding of assembly language and low-level programming, which can be a steep learning curve for beginners.
• Limited High-Level Features
  As a low-level assembler, FASM lacks the abstractions and conveniences of high-level programming languages, which can make complex application development cumbersome.
• Community and Support
  FASM has a smaller community compared to more mainstream programming tools, which can result in less available support and fewer third-party libraries.
• Platform-Specific Optimization
  While cross-platform, achieving optimal performance can require platform-specific adjustments, adding complexity to the development process.
• Debugging Difficulty
  Debugging assembly code can be challenging and time-consuming due to the low-level nature of the language and the increased possibility of hard-to-trace bugs.

• What every compiler writer should know about programmers (Anton Ertl, 2015) [pdf]

  Some of those already exist, e.g. https://bellard.org/tcc/ However, they're not in widespread use. I would be curious to learn if there's any data/non-anecdotal information as to why. Is it momentum/inertia of GCC/LLVM/MSVC? Are... - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago

• Git: Introduce Rust and announce that it will become mandatorty

  In theory you should be able to use TCC to build git currently [1] [2]. If you have a lightweight system or you're building something experimental, it's a lot easier to get TCC up and running over GCC. I note that it supports arm, arm64,... - Source: Hacker News / 12 months ago

• Weird Lexical Syntax

  > I'm not sure who wants to be able to syntax highlight C at 35 MB per second, but I am now able to do so Fast, but tcc *compiles* C to binary code at 29 MB/s on a really old computer: https://bellard.org/tcc/#speed. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago

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• Show HN: Torque – A lightweight meta-assembler for any processor

  Oh neat! Thanks for the link, I hadn't heard of fasmg before. It looks like fasmg builds up from the byte level, so it would only work for architectures that use 8-bit words. Torque builds up from the bit level, so it can assemble code... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago