Open tasks

Here is a list of open tasks in FPC.

There is a special page about the Systems 2005 fair in Munich, October 2005, regarding topics discussed between the FPC and Lazarus core developers.

Compiler development

Document the compiler
SSA framework
Instruction scheduler
Rework exception handling to "gcc style"
~~Port the m68k code generator to 2.3.x: M68k port~~
~~Create a MIPS code generator for 2.3.x: MIPS port~~
For missing language constructs, see: Language related articles
Package support and dynamic library handling in general (partially language, but has a lot of implications)
(more) DWARF debugformat support. This might cut back the size of binaries with debuginfo
Auto inlining
improve PowerPC port:
- improve AIX abi-compatibility (e.g., we don't return records as the AIX abi prescribes)
- improve the PPC-optimizer (only a peephole optimizer available)
improve ARM port:
- create a ARM-optimizer
- optimize helper routines some can use libgcc if linked against libc
- optimize concatcopy code generation
- optimize set operations
improve SPARC port
- write code optimizer
- improve RTL implementation
provide localization to other languages

Information about compiler development can be found here: Compiler development articles

~~port the 1.0.10 BeOS port to 2.1.x: BeOS port~~
~~port the 1.0.6/1.0.10 SunOS port to 2.1.x: SunOS port (combine with Sparc port)~~
port the 1.0.6/1.0.10 QNX port to 2.3.x: QNX port
Implement crossplatform 64-bit fileroutines
~~ARM port and RTL more userfriendly. (need users/contributors/betatesters first)~~
improve Mac OS X rtl:
- Port the missing RTL units (mainly text console handling)
- Improve support for the Mac Pascal dialect
- Finish Classic Mac OS support
~~create a WinCE rtl: WinCE port~~

The text mode IDE needs currently a maintainer, have a look at this page for more information: Textmode IDE development
there are a lot of bugs to fix, have a look at the bug repository: http://www.freepascal.org/bugs.html
~~get it working with FVISION~~
Related to this is debugging the platform dependant parts, the former "API" (video, mouse,keyboard). Help from platform maintainers can be expected. (more about isolating bugs than solving in these units) See also KVM API and Crt future
DWARF support for the IDE
Colour selection dialogue compatible as available in TP/BP IDE (previously used code was not clean from copyright point of view)

Packaging system
some more tasks are listed on http://www.freepascal.org/future.html near the bottom