Is the field still in demand? Are there any opportunities? What will I be working on? What tips can you give me?
At the moment -- and I expect for the foreseeable future -- demand quite significantly outstrips supply. Because of that, organisations are often quite flexible in how they view potential hires in this area. Simplifying a bit, there are two main ways to get in to the field: obtain specific training in the field (e.g. a PhD); start / contribute to a project (not necessarily OSS) that shows expertise (e.g. if you start filing high quality PRs against Rust or LLVM, people will fairly quickly realise you know what you're doing).
Best of luck -- it's a really fun field, with lots of interesting challenges, and a good group of people!
Then I worked on database (query) compilers. I managed Apache Hive at Hortonworks, and that has a compiler. These are very different beasts.
Now, my startup is working on code analysis and cross compilers for data engineering, including Spark.
Some of my colleagues are working in AI chip startups.
It’s hard to find high quality engineers in both kinds of compilers. Just like database internals engineers there is high demand.
Plug - I’m hiring at Prophecy.io for compiler engineers.
JIT compiled scripting languages and DSLs (domain specific languages) are all over the place, GPUs and the APIs that run on GPSs all need special compilers, embedded processors and custom chips often need custom compilers and/or custom optimizations.
There’s certainly a ton of optimization work out there, so if you like designing optimizations on top of existing compilers, you can pretty much pick what kinds of API/software/hardware you want to work on.
Instead, think about languages in general. There is a myriad of opportunities between the js eco system, JVM and .NET, things like Rust and even low-level languages like LLVM. It should be straightforward to pick features from one eco system and port them to another. Say linear types from Rust to the JVM. Pick one or two such features, port them to your favorite eco system and provide a prototype compiler/macro library on github. With that kind of experience under your belt, you should be the goto guy for any software company that does tooling in that ecosystem. From that vantage point you could start looking for ever more interesting work.
While not a list or positions as the URL suggests, ands to help remind people that compilers are in way more companies than you think!
How would you go in the adjacent field of language design? I would be super interested in doing research on the mental load of different programming languages (and different representations of information). I.e. put a hacker in a fMRI and let her solve tasks in different languages.
By the way, are there any people here (or, perhaps, you could recommend someone) who is very capable and would be interested in doing some potential contract work on a DSL (I'm still pondering about embedded vs. external - obviously, each category has their own pros and cons, but platform stack selection adds an additional complexity dimension)? Several people who I have approached so far, are definitely very knowledgeable, but they all work in academia and, thus, practically, have no time for consulting or contract work. :-( Not to mention potential issues arising from IP clauses in some experts' university contracts, hence the question above.
I worked there for awhile but compilers aren't really my thing. They're building cool stuff, though. Their tech converts database queries between dialects, and can even run as a translating proxy (for example, run Oracle code on Postgres) and provide performance insights into your code. Their clients are big name companies who need to maintain millions of lines of DB code.
e.g user write documents with something like markdown and then editor renders document with things like auto numeration, displaying other referenced elements by syntax e.g '@element2'
Does there exist job in writing parsers?
Compsci degree? Working compilers? Opensource commits? Github repo full of parsers?
I've seen jobs advertised by teams developing Cardano, Tezos, and Ethereum. It's worth looking at their project pages, seeing which teams work on it, and then checking their careers pages. I know IOHK have been hiring in the space although that's specifically functional compilers - however nothings up on their careers pages right now.
I also often see job postings for compiler developers in the embedded field.
We always have a great deal of trouble finding qualified candidates to fill open reqs. We find few are interested in this sort of technology, everyone want to either work on cool new applications (like self-driving automobiles) or high-profile web-based stuff. Our entire department is either waiting for retirement or a heart attack (whichever strikes first, and retirement is not a realistic expectation).
tl;dr compiler engineers are in demand and they work on compilers.
But if you're considering an education choice, don't overspecialise. You will most likely change specialisation in 5-10 years (different market, different technology), so if all you know is just compiler engineering, it will be way tougher for you.
Also, make sure you learn a lot about algorithms / computer science in general. If you know that, switching engineering fields will be easy.
And/or get in touch.
It is very sad how the engineer term has been corrupted.
You are an engineer only if you pass the FE exam and are a registered member of the state association of engineers