A deep dive into implementing a Brainfuck interpreter entirely using C++ template metaprogramming, executed at compile time. The post walks through building a Turing tape, a Brainfuck machine state type, I/O bundling, pattern-matched command interpretation for all 8 Brainfuck operators, and a bracket-matching algorithm for loop handling — all encoded as C++ template types. The result is a compiler that evaluates Brainfuck programs during compilation, embedding the output directly in the binary with no runtime Brainfuck logic remaining.
Table of contents
First Things First: What is Brainfuck?Implementation in C++ Template Meta LanguageAdapting the Turing TapeThe Brainfuck Machine StateThe Brainfuck Machine plus IO BundleInterpreting Brainfuck Code, the Simple PartInterpreting Brainfuck Code, the Complicated Part (Loops)PlaySummarySort: