# GccEmacs

> modified Emacs capable of compiling and running Emacs Lisp as native code (2019-2021) - merged into Emacs on April 25, 2021

**Wikidata**: [Q125941915](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q125941915)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gccemacs

## Summary
GccEmacs was a modified version of Emacs capable of compiling and running Emacs Lisp as native code. Created by Andrea Corallo between 2019-2021, it was merged into the main GNU Emacs codebase on April 25, 2021.

## Key Facts
- GccEmacs was a modified Emacs capable of compiling and running Emacs Lisp as native code
- Created and maintained by Andrea Corallo
- Existed from 2019 until April 25, 2021
- Successfully merged into GNU Emacs on April 25, 2021
- Classified as free software and a software project
- Cross-platform software capable of running on multiple computing platforms
- Had a dedicated website at https://akrl.sdf.org/gccemacs.html
- Project dissolved/abolished on April 25, 2021

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of GccEmacs?
A: GccEmacs was developed to improve Emacs performance by compiling Emacs Lisp code to native machine code rather than interpreting it. This approach aimed to make Emacs faster and more efficient while maintaining compatibility with standard Emacs functionality.

### Q: What happened to GccEmacs after 2021?
A: On April 25, 2021, GccEmacs was successfully merged into the main GNU Emacs codebase. Its native compilation functionality became part of standard Emacs distributions, and the separate GccEmacs project was dissolved.

### Q: How did GccEmacs differ from regular Emacs?
A: GccEmacs was distinguished by its ability to compile Emacs Lisp code to native machine code, whereas regular Emacs relied on interpretation. This compilation process offered significant performance improvements for Emacs Lisp programs.

## Why It Matters
GccEmacs represents a significant advancement in Emacs development by introducing native compilation for Emacs Lisp. Before this, Emacs relied entirely on interpreted Lisp code, which limited performance. The ability to compile Lisp code to native machine code dramatically improved execution speed, making Emacs more competitive with other modern editors. This innovation allowed Emacs to handle larger codebases and more complex operations more efficiently, potentially extending Emacs' relevance in an era of increasingly demanding applications. The successful integration of GccEmacs into standard Emacs demonstrated that long-standing open-source projects could incorporate significant architectural improvements without losing their fundamental character.

## Notable For
- First implementation of native compilation for Emacs Lisp code in 2019
- Significant performance improvements over traditional interpreted Emacs Lisp
- Successfully integrated into the main Emacs codebase on April 25, 2021
- Demonstrated that Emacs could incorporate modern compilation techniques while maintaining compatibility
- Created and maintained entirely by Andrea Corallo

## Body
### Overview
GccEmacs was a specialized fork of GNU Emacs that introduced native compilation capabilities for Emacs Lisp code. It represented an experimental approach to enhancing Emacs performance through compilation rather than pure interpretation.

### Technical Details
- Modified Emacs capable of compiling and running Emacs Lisp as native code
- Created by Andrea Corallo
- Existed from 2019 until April 25, 2021
- Classified as free software and a software project
- Cross-platform software (capable of running on multiple computing platforms)
- Website: https://akrl.sdf.org/gccemacs.html (in English)

### Development and Integration
- Inception: 2019
- Maintained by Andrea Corallo
- Merged into GNU Emacs on April 25, 2021
- Project dissolution date: April 25, 2021
- Main subject: GNU Emacs
- Subclass of GNU Emacs
- Instance of: free software, software project

### Documentation and References
- Described by source: "Bringing GNU Emacs to Native Code"
- Video documentation available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Emacsconf-2021-native--emacs-lisp-native-compiler-current-status-and-future-developments--andrea-corallo--main.webm

### Licensing
- License: Q27016754
- Copyright status: copyrighted

## References

1. [Source](https://akrl.sdf.org/)
2. [EmacsWiki](https://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/GccEmacs)
3. [Re: master 289000e: Merge branch 'feature/native-comp' into trunk. 2021](https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/emacs-devel/2021-04/msg01175.html)