Optimization

One of the major design goals of Cat is as an intermediate language for optimization. The Cat interpreter provides three tools for optimization: a sub-expression evaluator, inline function expander, and a macro rewriting system.

The various optimization tools are controlled by the meta-commands #p for the partial evaluator, #i for inline expansion, #m for macro application, and #o for optimization.

The #o optimization meta-command, rewrites quotations on the stack using a combination of different techniques.