2.5 Years. One Engineer. A Native Compiler — and a Long Silence.

I built a complete native compiler over 2.5 years, working nights and weekends. This is why I am only speaking about it now.

March 16, 2026 · 4 min · Michael Petersen

The Mica Story: Building a Compiler in the Second Half of Life

How a solo developer built a complete native compiler over 2.5 years — the breakthroughs, the frustration, the nine months of fighting with AI tools, and a tribute to the man whose work started it all.

March 15, 2026 · 31 min · Michael Petersen