[tex-live] web2c / MF in C

[Philip TAYLOR]

Norbert Preining wrote:

> On So, 01 Jul 2012, Shriramana Sharma wrote:

>> I want to read the MetaFont program in C (primarily to figure out
>> Hobby's algorithm used in the make_choices section). Right now I
>> have

> I don't think that the C code generated my web2c is actually readable
> ... but if you really want to try:

>> Can anyone please tell me what is the executable that converts the
>> mf.web that I got from CTAN to C so that I can obtain a C version
>> of

> No way. Get the texlive sources, run the build script, and after
> that look att he source mf1.c ... mf5.c (as far as I remember).

> But I don't think you will be happy with that, as it is not C code
> that is intended to be read by humans.

Why not read the original Pascal Web sources ?  Not only are
they written in an intentionally literate style, they also
embed program fragments in an algorithmic language (Pascal)
that was also designed as a didactic tool.

Philip Taylor