Crosspost: Help wanted from comp.compilers

["John R. Strohm" <strohm@airmail.net>]

Microsoft has this NEW IDEA.  They're going to build a Program Database to
store all kinds of intermediate data about the programs being compiled,
linked, etc., and their tools will all work from that database.

Sounds sort of like the database at the center of a Stoneman APSE to me.
That idea dates back to, what, the late 1970s?

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: RE: Microsoft - Compiler Opportunities
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2003 15:11:48 -0700

Software Design Engineer - New Product

Microsoft has recently started an exciting compiler and tools project
which will produce all its future code generators, JIT compilers,
optimizers, and program analysis tools. The tools suite will include
tools ranging from profilers to sophisticated defect analysis tools.
Producing optimized, robust software requires advanced, integrated
tools that are built from a common infrastructure that is capable of
analyzing and processing program related information at different
stages in the development process. This information, whether it is
source code, intermediate representation, metadata, profile
information, browser data, binaries, etc has historically been
scattered about in a typical build environment. We're looking to build
a common Program Database where all of this data can be stored and
retrieved efficiently and uniformly thru an API by various interested
parties. These would include compilers, dynamic & static analysis
tools, debuggers, source browsers, QA tools, and so on. We are looking
for a person with a background in programming environments/databases/
compilers/tools to help design and implement this central Program
Database. You would be working with a team of experienced compiler and
tools writers tasked with producing the core of Microsoft's next
generation programming environment. The PDB and the API's you design
will be used in products throughout Microsoft as well as future 3rd
party tool vendors. The ideal candidate would have an MS/CS+ and 4+
years of experience building program databases, analysis tools (and
their stores) and a strong passion for programming environments in
general.