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I think C is fine for a simple compiler. Why are algebraic data types so relevant? Pattern matching is nice, because switch statements plus unpacking is more verbose.

For big optimizing compilers you appreciate abstractions like C++ enables. for example, a data flow Analysis framework.

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Algebraic data is just so perfectly suited to abstract syntax. It's clearly possible to model an AST in C, but not to do it in an ergonomic z typesafe way.

In addition to being more succinct, algebraic data types are also better about warning if you forgot to handle one of the cases.

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