In my previous posting, I didn't mean to use the Scheme layer as a middleman; I meant to take an existing Scheme compiler and do s/lambda/fn/g on the code (as well as other necessary changes :-) to end up with an Arc compiler.
If you're implementing a Scheme-like system, I highly recommend Dybvig's "Three Implementation Models for Scheme" (http://www.cs.indiana.edu/~dyb/pubs/3imp.pdf). The three models are a heap model, a stack model, and implementation on a crazy string-based research processor; you'd probably want the stack model. Despite being a PhD thesis, it is very practical; it describes how the author implemented Chez Scheme and gives a pretty much full Scheme implementation running on a simple virtual machine. It handwaves about converting the virtual machine code to assembly, and gives some sample VAX code in an appendix.
I'll reiterate that you should look at how to make your project have a larger impact and relevance; what could you do (perhaps using your compiler as a base) that 1000 people would benefit from?
So basically you propose writing a meta-circular Arc compiler by porting a Scheme compiler to Arc, and modifying the compiler to compile Arc instead? That actually sounds like a really cool idea, if I understand you correctly. But what Scheme compiler would you use as a base?
I presume the paper you posted is meant for implementing Scheme from scratch? (So this would be an alternative to the previous option?) I'll look over it if I get the time.
Now perhaps I'll see if I can make a proposal out of this. (I might as well, assuming I have the time, since I am allowed more than one.) Although there is one issue: in order for such a proposal to get funded, I need someone from the Arc community to step up and mentor it.
