A Deep Dive into Scala Native Internals

on YouTube ↗35m

" summary

Scala Native compiles Scala ahead-of-time to machine code by converting Scala ASTs into a custom NIR intermediate representation, running a linker that performs reachability pruning, then an optimizer (including partial escape analysis and polymorphic inlining) and lowering to LLVM IR which clang/llvm compiles; it already cross-builds for Scala 2.12 and 2.13, ships multiple GC options and the interflow optimizer, and is actively working on multithreading support and a Scala 3 frontend.

AI-written summary · about

" chapters (7)

1. 0:00Introduction to Scala Native
2. 1:38Project goals and background
3. 6:02Native Intermediate Representation
4. 13:59Compiler pipeline stages
5. 22:39Linking and optimization
6. 29:01Code generation and backend
7. 33:16Future goals and roadmap

" related talks

• 49mStarting from Scratch with Scala NativeRichard Whaling · Scala Days Berlin 2018
• 36mHands-on Scala-NativeGuillaume Massé, Martin Duhem · Scala Days Copenhagen 2017
• 29mA brief introduction to systems programming, with Scala NativeRichard Whaling · Scale By The Bay 2019
• 41mLessons to Scala Native from Kotlin NativeAlexander Podkhalyuzin · Scala Days Berlin 2018
• 30mExploring JVM Innovations Through the Lens of Scala NativeWojciech Mazur · Scalar Conference 2025
• 27mScala and C – tight as brothersAnton Sviridov · Scalar 2026
• 45mStarting from Scratch with Scala NativeRichard Whaling · Scala Days New York 2018
• 35mScala 2.12 & BeyondAdriaan Moors · GOTO Chicago 2015