title: Is it a good idea to compile a language to C?
body: <p>All over the web, I am getting the feeling that writing a C backend for a compiler is not such a good idea anymore. GHC's C backend is not being actively developed anymore (this is my unsupported feeling). Compilers are targeting C-- or LLVM.</p>
  
  <p>Normally, I would think that GCC is a good old mature compiler that does performs well at optimizing code, therefore compiling to C will use the maturity of GCC to yield better and faster code. Is this not true?</p>
  
  <p>I realize that the question greatly depends on the nature of the language being compiled and on other factors such that getting more maintainable code. I am looking for a rather more general answer (w.r.t. the compiled language) that focuses solely on performance (disregarding code quality, ..etc.). I would be also really glad if the answer includes an explanation on why GHC is drifting away from C and why LLVM performs better as a backend (<a href="http://donsbot.wordpress.com/2010/02/21/smoking-fast-haskell-code-using-ghcs-new-llvm-codegen/" rel="noreferrer">see this</a>) or any other examples of compilers doing the same that I am not aware of.</p>