# Metacompilation

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'''Metacompilation''' is a [computation](/source/computation) which involves [metasystem](/source/metasystem) transitions (MST) from a computing machine ''M'' to a metamachine ''M' '' which controls, analyzes and imitates the work of ''M''. [Semantic](/source/Semantic)s-based program transformation, such as [partial evaluation](/source/partial_evaluation) and supercompilation (SCP), is metacomputation. Metasystem transitions may be repeated, as when a program transformer gets transformed itself. In this manner MST hierarchies of any height can be formed. The Fox{{what|date=May 2012}} paper reviews one strain of research which was started in [Russia](/source/Russia) by [Valentin Turchin](/source/Valentin_Turchin)'s [REFAL](/source/REFAL) system in the late 1960s-early 1970s and became known for the development of supercompilation as a distinct method of [program transformation](/source/program_transformation). After a brief description of the history of this research line, the paper concentrates on those results and problems where supercompilation is combined with repeated metasystem transitions.

==See also==
*[Metacompiler](/source/Metacompiler)
*[Partial evaluation](/source/Partial_evaluation)

==External links==
* [https://hjemmesider.diku.dk/~jpsecher/ Papers on metacompilation]
* [http://refal.net/doc/turchin/dag/dag.html Metacomputation: Metasystem Transitions + Supercompilation] an introduction to supercompilation

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Category:Compiler construction

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Metacompilation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metacompilation) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metacompilation?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.