• xoxorwr (13/13) Jun 12 As a related idea to my previous post (1), a persistent DMD
• xoxorwr (3/16) Jun 12 I should note that I already have a working PoC, I'll publish the
• Mike Parker (7/20) Jun 12 We're moving toward running the compiler as a daemon. This is
• Per =?UTF-8?B?Tm9yZGzDtnc=?= (2/7) Jun 23 Wonderful. What a time to be alive!

xoxorwr <noreply gmail.com> writes:

As a related idea to my previous post (1), a persistent DMD 
compiler daemon could further improve hot reload workflows.

A `dmd watch` mode could keep compiler state resident in memory, 
monitor source files for changes, and serve incremental 
compilation requests.

Example:

```bash
dmd -watch <args>
```

Combined with ` watch`, this would help make D a stronger 
platform for live code reloading.

1 - 
https://forum.dlang.org/thread/ceitihaomrrxhivwryov forum.dlang.org

xoxorwr <noreply gmail.com> writes:

On Friday, 12 June 2026 at 13:07:26 UTC, xoxorwr wrote:
 As a related idea to my previous post (1), a persistent DMD 
 compiler daemon could further improve hot reload workflows.

 A `dmd watch` mode could keep compiler state resident in 
 memory, monitor source files for changes, and serve incremental 
 compilation requests.

 Example:

 ```bash
 dmd -watch <args>
 ```

 Combined with ` watch`, this would help make D a stronger 
 platform for live code reloading.

 1 - 
 https://forum.dlang.org/thread/ceitihaomrrxhivwryov forum.dlang.org

I should note that I already have a working PoC, I'll publish the 
source soon.

Mike Parker <aldacron gmail.com> writes:

On Friday, 12 June 2026 at 13:07:26 UTC, xoxorwr wrote:
 As a related idea to my previous post (1), a persistent DMD 
 compiler daemon could further improve hot reload workflows.

 A `dmd watch` mode could keep compiler state resident in 
 memory, monitor source files for changes, and serve incremental 
 compilation requests.

 Example:

 ```bash
 dmd -watch <args>
 ```

 Combined with ` watch`, this would help make D a stronger 
 platform for live code reloading.

 1 - 
 https://forum.dlang.org/thread/ceitihaomrrxhivwryov forum.dlang.org

We're moving toward running the compiler as a daemon. This is 
something Robert Schadek pushed for in a few meetings a while 
back that would enable certain kinds of features, like monitoring 
source files, and Walter agreed it was a good idea. It's one of 
the motivations behind the AST refactoring project.

At any rate, I don't believe this required a DIP.

Per =?UTF-8?B?Tm9yZGzDtnc=?= <per.nordlow gmail.com> writes:

On Saturday, 13 June 2026 at 02:09:43 UTC, Mike Parker wrote:
 We're moving toward running the compiler as a daemon. This is 
 something Robert Schadek pushed for in a few meetings a while 
 back that would enable certain kinds of features, like 
 monitoring source files, and Walter agreed it was a good idea. 
 It's one of the motivations behind the AST refactoring project.

Wonderful. What a time to be alive!