But last I saw the code that was generated was the problem, not the primitives.
Good! So, if what we want the compiler compiler to do is, say, just to produce an output isomorphic to the input, then this also reduces the complexity of what we're asking to do. I think this falls well inside what we could automate with some kind of guarantee of correctness.
A good mental habit for programmers is to constantly ask, "Can the stated problem be reduced in scope, such that we satisfy the goal?"
Good! So, if what we want the compiler compiler to do is, say, just to produce an output isomorphic to the input, then this also reduces the complexity of what we're asking to do. I think this falls well inside what we could automate with some kind of guarantee of correctness.
A good mental habit for programmers is to constantly ask, "Can the stated problem be reduced in scope, such that we satisfy the goal?"