The pipeline-based compilation was already applied in the past. Here some examples:
1) C compilers
They work as a two-step pipeline:
_ expansion of macros, constants and inclusion of header files, by the C preprocessor.
_ conversion of source code in machine code.
2) Ratfor compiler
Ratfor is a programming language for numerical calculation, invented 1976 by Brian Kernighan (who was the co-inventor of C language). It is implemented as a preprocessor for Fortran 66. The code generation follows this pipeline:
_ conversion of Ratfor in Fortran 66.
_ conversion of Fortran 66 to machine code.
Ratfor was invented for providing the free form and the modern control statement to numerical programmers, overcoming the limitations of Fortran 66.
The pipeline-based compilation was already applied in the past. Here some examples:
1) C compilers
They work as a two-step pipeline:
_ expansion of macros, constants and inclusion of header files, by the C preprocessor.
_ conversion of source code in machine code.
2) Ratfor compiler
Ratfor is a programming language for numerical calculation, invented 1976 by Brian Kernighan (who was the co-inventor of C language). It is implemented as a preprocessor for Fortran 66. The code generation follows this pipeline:
_ conversion of Ratfor in Fortran 66.
_ conversion of Fortran 66 to machine code.
Ratfor was invented for providing the free form and the modern control statement to numerical programmers, overcoming the limitations of Fortran 66.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratfor
3) Objective C compiler
The first compiler for this language was implemented by Brad Cox as a preprocessor for C language:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Objective-C