[tetha]

This is something I've been thinking about quite a bit. It feels like there have to be two kinds of compilers and VMs (if necessary), with different strengths.

One kind of compiler should be like current compilers, with a focus on speed, resource consumption, optimization. Most actual commercial applications would use this compiler, because it provides the fastest and most efficient software.

But beyond that, it might be beneficial to implement compilers with a focus on simplicity and a minimum of dependencies. For example, implement a compiler on an ARM CPU in assembler. The translation step to run this code on an actual CPU is too small and simple to be backdoor'd, and the CPU should be simple or even open.

Such a simplicity oriented compiler could provide a source of truth, if all components are too simple to backdoor'd.