[LLVMdev] The name of LLVM

[Chris Lattner]

On Dec 21, 2011, at 8:35 AM, Jianzhou Zhao wrote:

> Hi LLVM,
> 
> I have a question that is irrelevant to LLVM developing, but do not
> know where to post. I found the LLVM webpage uses the following new
> introduction of LLVM
>  "The LLVM Project is a collection of modular and reusable compiler
> and toolchain technologies. Despite its name, LLVM has little to do
> with traditional virtual machines, ..."
> 
> I remember the old webpage said that LLVM = low level virtual machine.
> Do you still like to take LLVM as an abbreviation of  low level
> virtual machine? But this sounds inconsistent with " LLVM has little
> to do with traditional virtual machines"? If so, if I am introducing
> LLVM to people, do you want me to unfold LLVM as its full name, or use
> LLVM directly?  Thanks…

Hi Jianzhou,

"LLVM" is officially no longer an acronym.  The acronym it once expanded too was confusing, and inappropriate almost from day 1.  :)  As LLVM has grown to encompass other subprojects, it became even less useful and meaningless.

In short, it is just "The LLVM Project", and LLVM doesn't stand for anything anymore.  It is a nice short domain name though :)

-Chris