Pugs (compiler) facts for kids

Pugs is a special computer program that helps computers understand and run code written in the Raku programming language. It was started on February 1, 2005, by a person named Audrey Tang. Back then, Raku was known as Perl 6.

Pugs was a big step in making Raku work. While Pugs development is not active anymore, many of its ideas helped create Rakudo, which is now the main way Raku is used.

What is Pugs?

The Pugs project aimed to build the Raku programming language from the ground up. It followed all the rules for Raku, which were written down in special documents called Synopses. Pugs itself was written using another programming language called Haskell.

Pugs had two main parts that you could use:

• Pugs was like a translator that could run Raku code directly. It also had an interactive shell, which is a place where you can type commands and see results right away.
• Pugscc was a compiler. This means it could turn Raku programs into other forms of code. For example, it could make code for Haskell, Perl 5, JavaScript, or even a special computer language called PIR assembly for the Parrot virtual machine.

Pugs is also free software. This means people can use it, share it, and change it freely. It uses the same rules for sharing as the Perl language.

How Pugs Worked with Other Programs

Pugs could even work with older computer programs written in Perl 5. This meant it could use special tools and modules that were already available for Perl 5. For example, Pugs could connect to databases using a popular Perl 5 tool called Perl DBI. This showed how Pugs could be flexible and connect with existing computer systems.

How Pugs Was Developed

Many things helped Pugs make quick progress when it was being built:

• Haskell Language: Pugs was written in Haskell. Haskell is a language that helps find mistakes in code early on, even before the program runs. This made it easier for programmers to fix problems.
• Testing First: The people working on Pugs used a method called "test-driven development." This means they wrote tests for each part of the program before they even wrote the program itself. This helped make sure the code worked correctly.
• Open Access: The project leader, Audrey Tang, allowed many people to contribute to Pugs. This meant lots of people could help write code and tests. Because of this, Pugs ended up with a huge collection of tests. These tests were so good that other projects building Raku also used them.
• Good Communication: Audrey Tang shared her progress and thoughts in a journal. This helped attract many people to join the Pugs project.

However, after a while, the work on Pugs slowed down. Many people who helped build Pugs later moved on to create other helpful tools for Perl 5, like the Moose project.

See also

In Spanish: Pugs para niños