diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 96d1d75c77..944fd79fcb 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 src/cdxxx.c
 src/debtab.c
 src/dmd
+src/dmd_frontend
 src/ddmd
 src/dmd.conf
 src/elxxx.c
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@ test/test_results
 *.obj
 src/idgen.exe
 src/dmd.exe
+src/dmd_frontend.exe
 src/optabgen.exe
 src/verstr.h
 *.map
diff --git a/src/aggregate.d b/src/aggregate.d
index 145d7ad353..9c847df612 100644
--- a/src/aggregate.d
+++ b/src/aggregate.d
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ module ddmd.aggregate;
 import core.stdc.stdio;
 import ddmd.access;
 import ddmd.arraytypes;
-import ddmd.backend;
+import ddmd.gluelayer;
 import ddmd.clone;
 import ddmd.dclass;
 import ddmd.declaration;
diff --git a/src/arraytypes.d b/src/arraytypes.d
index ee7cef07f0..036d7b8572 100644
--- a/src/arraytypes.d
+++ b/src/arraytypes.d
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 module ddmd.arraytypes;
 
 import ddmd.aggregate;
-import ddmd.backend;
+import ddmd.gluelayer;
 import ddmd.dclass;
 import ddmd.declaration;
 import ddmd.dmodule;
diff --git a/src/backend.d b/src/backend.d
index eee30fbd41..73fd1c4692 100644
--- a/src/backend.d
+++ b/src/backend.d
@@ -8,33 +8,14 @@
 
 module ddmd.backend;
 
-import ddmd.aggregate;
-import ddmd.dmodule;
-import ddmd.dscope;
-import ddmd.expression;
-import ddmd.lib;
-import ddmd.mtype;
-import ddmd.root.file;
-
 struct Symbol;
 struct code;
 struct block;
 struct Blockx;
 struct elem;
 
-extern extern (C++) void backend_init();
-extern extern (C++) void backend_term();
-extern extern (C++) void obj_start(char* srcfile);
-extern extern (C++) void obj_end(Library library, File* objfile);
-extern extern (C++) void obj_write_deferred(Library library);
-
-extern extern (C++) void genObjFile(Module m, bool multiobj);
-
-extern extern (C++) Symbol* toInitializer(AggregateDeclaration sd);
-
 // type.h
 
-
 alias tym_t = uint;
 alias mangle_t = ubyte;
 alias targ_size_t = ulong;
diff --git a/src/dclass.d b/src/dclass.d
index d917db38a8..cf44b3ee2e 100644
--- a/src/dclass.d
+++ b/src/dclass.d
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ module ddmd.dclass;
 import core.stdc.string;
 import ddmd.aggregate;
 import ddmd.arraytypes;
-import ddmd.backend;
+import ddmd.gluelayer;
 import ddmd.clone;
 import ddmd.declaration;
 import ddmd.dmodule;
diff --git a/src/denum.d b/src/denum.d
index fa6797a30f..74034189a7 100644
--- a/src/denum.d
+++ b/src/denum.d
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ module ddmd.denum;
 
 import core.stdc.stdio;
 import ddmd.access;
-import ddmd.backend;
+import ddmd.gluelayer;
 import ddmd.declaration;
 import ddmd.dmodule;
 import ddmd.doc;
diff --git a/src/dmodule.d b/src/dmodule.d
index f1d9dbb1b9..d6636cdee7 100644
--- a/src/dmodule.d
+++ b/src/dmodule.d
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import core.stdc.stdlib;
 import core.stdc.string;
 import ddmd.aggregate;
 import ddmd.arraytypes;
-import ddmd.backend;
+import ddmd.gluelayer;
 import ddmd.dimport;
 import ddmd.dmacro;
 import ddmd.doc;
diff --git a/src/dstruct.d b/src/dstruct.d
index 93175f49c8..1e2a337ccd 100644
--- a/src/dstruct.d
+++ b/src/dstruct.d
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ module ddmd.dstruct;
 import ddmd.aggregate;
 import ddmd.argtypes;
 import ddmd.arraytypes;
-import ddmd.backend;
+import ddmd.gluelayer;
 import ddmd.clone;
 import ddmd.declaration;
 import ddmd.dmodule;
diff --git a/src/dsymbol.d b/src/dsymbol.d
index f7bd2d8ded..11de3950ab 100644
--- a/src/dsymbol.d
+++ b/src/dsymbol.d
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import ddmd.aggregate;
 import ddmd.aliasthis;
 import ddmd.arraytypes;
 import ddmd.attrib;
-import ddmd.backend;
+import ddmd.gluelayer;
 import ddmd.dclass;
 import ddmd.declaration;
 import ddmd.denum;
diff --git a/src/dtemplate.d b/src/dtemplate.d
index da268cbd01..9362846312 100644
--- a/src/dtemplate.d
+++ b/src/dtemplate.d
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import ddmd.aggregate;
 import ddmd.aliasthis;
 import ddmd.arraytypes;
 import ddmd.attrib;
-import ddmd.backend;
+import ddmd.gluelayer;
 import ddmd.dcast;
 import ddmd.dclass;
 import ddmd.declaration;
diff --git a/src/expression.d b/src/expression.d
index 746e3c0332..976441167b 100644
--- a/src/expression.d
+++ b/src/expression.d
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import ddmd.argtypes;
 import ddmd.arrayop;
 import ddmd.arraytypes;
 import ddmd.attrib;
-import ddmd.backend;
+import ddmd.gluelayer;
 import ddmd.canthrow;
 import ddmd.clone;
 import ddmd.complex;
diff --git a/src/func.d b/src/func.d
index a6c25d1aa8..10b4da80f0 100644
--- a/src/func.d
+++ b/src/func.d
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import core.stdc.string;
 import ddmd.aggregate;
 import ddmd.arraytypes;
 import ddmd.attrib;
-import ddmd.backend;
+import ddmd.gluelayer;
 import ddmd.builtin;
 import ddmd.ctfeexpr;
 import ddmd.dclass;
@@ -48,8 +48,6 @@ import ddmd.target;
 import ddmd.tokens;
 import ddmd.visitor;
 
-extern extern (C++) RET retStyle(TypeFunction tf);
-
 enum ILS : int
 {
     ILSuninitialized,       // not computed yet
diff --git a/src/gluelayer.d b/src/gluelayer.d
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1b12cb81a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/gluelayer.d
@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+// Compiler implementation of the D programming language
+// Copyright (c) 1999-2015 by Digital Mars
+// All Rights Reserved
+// written by Walter Bright
+// http://www.digitalmars.com
+// Distributed under the Boost Software License, Version 1.0.
+// http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt
+
+module ddmd.gluelayer;
+
+import ddmd.aggregate;
+import ddmd.dmodule;
+import ddmd.dscope;
+import ddmd.dsymbol;
+import ddmd.expression;
+import ddmd.lib;
+import ddmd.mtype;
+import ddmd.statement;
+import ddmd.root.file;
+
+version (NoBackend)
+{
+    struct Symbol;
+    struct code;
+    struct block;
+    struct Blockx;
+    struct elem;
+    struct TYPE;
+    alias type = TYPE;
+
+    // tocsym
+
+    extern (C++) Symbol* toInitializer(AggregateDeclaration ad)
+    {
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    // glue
+
+    extern (C++) void obj_write_deferred(Library library)
+    {
+    }
+
+    extern (C++) void obj_start(char* srcfile)
+    {
+    }
+
+    extern (C++) void obj_end(Library library, File* objfile)
+    {
+    }
+
+    extern (C++) void genObjFile(Module m, bool multiobj)
+    {
+    }
+
+    // msc
+
+    extern (C++) void backend_init()
+    {
+    }
+
+    extern (C++) void backend_term()
+    {
+    }
+
+    // iasm
+
+    extern (C++) Statement asmSemantic(AsmStatement s, Scope* sc)
+    {
+        assert(0);
+    }
+
+    // toir
+
+    extern (C++) RET retStyle(TypeFunction tf)
+    {
+        return RETregs;
+    }
+
+    extern (C++) void toObjFile(Dsymbol ds, bool multiobj)
+    {
+    }
+
+    version (OSX)
+    {
+        extern(C++) void objc_initSymbols()
+        {
+        }
+    }
+}
+else
+{
+    import ddmd.backend;
+
+    alias Symbol = ddmd.backend.Symbol;
+    alias code = ddmd.backend.code;
+    alias block = ddmd.backend.block;
+    alias Blockx = ddmd.backend.Blockx;
+    alias elem = ddmd.backend.elem;
+    alias type = ddmd.backend.type;
+
+    extern extern (C++) Symbol* toInitializer(AggregateDeclaration sd);
+
+    extern extern (C++) void obj_write_deferred(Library library);
+    extern extern (C++) void obj_start(char* srcfile);
+    extern extern (C++) void obj_end(Library library, File* objfile);
+    extern extern (C++) void genObjFile(Module m, bool multiobj);
+
+    extern extern (C++) void backend_init();
+    extern extern (C++) void backend_term();
+
+    extern extern (C++) Statement asmSemantic(AsmStatement s, Scope* sc);
+
+    extern extern (C++) RET retStyle(TypeFunction tf);
+    extern extern (C++) void toObjFile(Dsymbol ds, bool multiobj);
+
+    version (OSX)
+    {
+        extern(C++) void objc_initSymbols();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/gluestub.d b/src/gluestub.d
deleted file mode 100644
index 895af3b02e..0000000000
--- a/src/gluestub.d
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,73 +0,0 @@
-/* Compiler implementation of the D programming language
- * Copyright (c) 1999-2014 by Digital Mars
- * All Rights Reserved
- * http://www.digitalmars.com
- * Distributed under the Boost Software License, Version 1.0.
- * http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt
- * https://github.com/D-Programming-Language/dmd/blob/master/src/gluestub.c
- */
-
-module ddmd.gluestub;
-
-import ddmd.backend;
-import ddmd.aggregate;
-import ddmd.dmodule;
-import ddmd.dscope;
-import ddmd.dsymbol;
-import ddmd.lib;
-import ddmd.mtype;
-import ddmd.root.file;
-import ddmd.statement;
-
-// tocsym
-
-extern (C++) Symbol* toInitializer(AggregateDeclaration ad)
-{
-    return null;
-}
-
-// glue
-
-extern (C++) void obj_write_deferred(Library library)
-{
-}
-
-extern (C++) void obj_start(char* srcfile)
-{
-}
-
-extern (C++) void obj_end(Library library, File* objfile)
-{
-}
-
-extern (C++) void genObjFile(Module m, bool multiobj)
-{
-}
-
-// msc
-
-extern (C++) void backend_init()
-{
-}
-
-extern (C++) void backend_term()
-{
-}
-
-// iasm
-
-extern (C++) Statement asmSemantic(AsmStatement s, Scope* sc)
-{
-    assert(0);
-}
-
-// toir
-
-extern (C++) RET retStyle(TypeFunction tf)
-{
-    return RETregs;
-}
-
-extern (C++) void toObjFile(Dsymbol ds, bool multiobj)
-{
-}
diff --git a/src/mars.d b/src/mars.d
index e769d1b408..2fd9733a9e 100644
--- a/src/mars.d
+++ b/src/mars.d
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import core.stdc.stdio;
 import core.stdc.stdlib;
 import core.stdc.string;
 import ddmd.arraytypes;
-import ddmd.backend;
+import ddmd.gluelayer;
 import ddmd.builtin;
 import ddmd.cond;
 import ddmd.dinifile;
diff --git a/src/mtype.d b/src/mtype.d
index fc0a2edb96..a990c902af 100644
--- a/src/mtype.d
+++ b/src/mtype.d
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import ddmd.aliasthis;
 import ddmd.argtypes;
 import ddmd.arraytypes;
 import ddmd.attrib;
-import ddmd.backend;
+import ddmd.gluelayer;
 import ddmd.complex;
 import ddmd.ctfeexpr;
 import ddmd.dcast;
diff --git a/src/objc.d b/src/objc.d
index 794c284f67..d80cbf1fff 100644
--- a/src/objc.d
+++ b/src/objc.d
@@ -18,14 +18,13 @@ import ddmd.dstruct;
 import ddmd.expression;
 import ddmd.func;
 import ddmd.globals;
+import ddmd.gluelayer;
 import ddmd.id;
 import ddmd.identifier;
 import ddmd.mtype;
 import ddmd.root.outbuffer;
 import ddmd.root.stringtable;
 
-extern(C++) void objc_initSymbols();
-
 struct ObjcSelector
 {
     // MARK: Selector
diff --git a/src/posix.mak b/src/posix.mak
index 2e926da8a2..3b19d132d0 100644
--- a/src/posix.mak
+++ b/src/posix.mak
@@ -179,20 +179,20 @@ endif
 endif
 
 
-DMD_SRCS=$(addsuffix .d,access aggregate aliasthis apply argtypes arrayop	\
-	arraytypes attrib backend builtin canthrow clone complex cond constfold	\
+FRONT_SRCS=$(addsuffix .d,access aggregate aliasthis apply argtypes arrayop	\
+	arraytypes attrib builtin canthrow clone complex cond constfold	\
 	cppmangle ctfeexpr dcast dclass declaration delegatize denum dimport	\
 	dinifile dinterpret dmacro dmangle dmodule doc dscope dstruct dsymbol	\
 	dtemplate dunittest dversion entity errors escape expression func	\
 	globals hdrgen id identifier impcnvtab imphint init inline intrange	\
 	json lexer lib link mars mtype nogc nspace opover optimize parse sapply	\
 	sideeffect statement staticassert target tokens traits utf visitor \
-	typinf irstate toelfdebug toctype)
+	typinf)
 
 ifeq ($(D_OBJC),1)
-	DMD_SRCS += objc.d
+	FRONT_SRCS += objc.d
 else
-	DMD_SRCS += objc_stubs.d
+	FRONT_SRCS += objc_stubs.d
 endif
 
 ROOT_SRCS = $(addsuffix .d,$(addprefix $(ROOT)/,aav array file filename	\
@@ -210,11 +210,15 @@ else
 endif
 
 ifeq (osx,$(OS))
-    DMD_SRCS += libmach.d scanmach.d
+    FRONT_SRCS += libmach.d scanmach.d
 else
-    DMD_SRCS += libelf.d scanelf.d
+    FRONT_SRCS += libelf.d scanelf.d
 endif
 
+GLUE_SRCS=$(addsuffix .d,backend irstate toelfdebug toctype gluelayer)
+
+DMD_SRCS=$(FRONT_SRCS) $(GLUE_SRCS)
+
 BACK_OBJS = go.o gdag.o gother.o gflow.o gloop.o var.o el.o \
 	glocal.o os.o nteh.o evalu8.o cgcs.o \
 	rtlsym.o cgelem.o cgen.o cgreg.o out.o \
@@ -285,7 +289,7 @@ DEPS = $(patsubst %.o,%.deps,$(DMD_OBJS) $(GLUE_OBJS) $(BACK_OBJS))
 
 all: dmd
 
-auto-tester-build: dmd checkwhitespace
+auto-tester-build: dmd checkwhitespace dmd_frontend
 .PHONY: auto-tester-build
 
 glue.a: $(GLUE_OBJS)
@@ -294,6 +298,9 @@ glue.a: $(GLUE_OBJS)
 backend.a: $(BACK_OBJS)
 	$(AR) rcs backend.a $(BACK_OBJS)
 
+dmd_frontend: $(FRONT_SRCS) gluelayer.d $(ROOT_SRCS) newdelete.o $(STRING_IMPORT_FILES) $(HOST_DMD_PATH)
+	CC=$(HOST_CC) $(HOST_DMD_RUN) -of$@ $(MODEL_FLAG) -vtls -J. -L-lstdc++ $(DFLAGS) $(filter-out $(STRING_IMPORT_FILES) $(HOST_DMD_PATH),$^) -version=NoBackend
+
 ifdef ENABLE_LTO
 dmd: $(DMD_SRCS) $(ROOT_SRCS) newdelete.o $(GLUE_OBJS) $(BACK_OBJS) $(STRING_IMPORT_FILES) $(HOST_DMD_PATH)
 	CC=$(HOST_CC) $(HOST_DMD_RUN) -of$@ $(MODEL_FLAG) -vtls -J. -L-lstdc++ $(DFLAGS) $(filter-out $(STRING_IMPORT_FILES) $(HOST_DMD_PATH),$^)
diff --git a/src/statement.d b/src/statement.d
index 905c1d896f..4181869f77 100644
--- a/src/statement.d
+++ b/src/statement.d
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import ddmd.aliasthis;
 import ddmd.arrayop;
 import ddmd.arraytypes;
 import ddmd.attrib;
-import ddmd.backend;
+import ddmd.gluelayer;
 import ddmd.canthrow;
 import ddmd.clone;
 import ddmd.cond;
@@ -54,8 +54,6 @@ import ddmd.target;
 import ddmd.tokens;
 import ddmd.visitor;
 
-extern extern (C++) Statement asmSemantic(AsmStatement s, Scope* sc);
-
 extern (C++) Identifier fixupLabelName(Scope* sc, Identifier ident)
 {
     uint flags = (sc.flags & SCOPEcontract);
diff --git a/src/typinf.d b/src/typinf.d
index caa574beb5..1340a4e5f2 100644
--- a/src/typinf.d
+++ b/src/typinf.d
@@ -15,11 +15,10 @@ import ddmd.dstruct;
 import ddmd.dsymbol;
 import ddmd.errors;
 import ddmd.globals;
+import ddmd.gluelayer;
 import ddmd.mtype;
 import ddmd.visitor;
 
-extern (C++) void toObjFile(Dsymbol ds, bool multiobj);
-
 /****************************************************
  * Get the exact TypeInfo.
  */
diff --git a/src/win32.mak b/src/win32.mak
index 13f0f03e92..e2bdab2399 100644
--- a/src/win32.mak
+++ b/src/win32.mak
@@ -136,9 +136,8 @@ DMDMAKE=$(MAKE) -fwin32.mak C=$C TK=$(TK) ROOT=$(ROOT) HOST_DC="$(HOST_DC)"
 ############################### Rule Variables ###############################
 
 # D front end
-# mars.obj
-DMD_SRCS=access.d aggregate.d aliasthis.d apply.d argtypes.d arrayop.d		\
-	arraytypes.d attrib.d backend.d builtin.d canthrow.d clone.d complex.d	\
+FRONT_SRCS=access.d aggregate.d aliasthis.d apply.d argtypes.d arrayop.d	\
+	arraytypes.d attrib.d builtin.d canthrow.d clone.d complex.d		\
 	cond.d constfold.d cppmangle.d ctfeexpr.d dcast.d dclass.d		\
 	declaration.d delegatize.d denum.d dimport.d dinifile.d dinterpret.d	\
 	dmacro.d dmangle.d dmodule.d doc.d dscope.d dstruct.d dsymbol.d		\
@@ -148,7 +147,11 @@ DMD_SRCS=access.d aggregate.d aliasthis.d apply.d argtypes.d arrayop.d		\
 	mars.d mtype.d nogc.d nspace.d objc_stubs.d opover.d optimize.d parse.d	\
 	sapply.d sideeffect.d statement.d staticassert.d target.d tokens.d	\
 	traits.d utf.d visitor.d libomf.d scanomf.d typinf.d \
-	libmscoff.d scanmscoff.d irstate.d toctype.d
+	libmscoff.d scanmscoff.d
+
+GLUE_SRCS=irstate.d toctype.d backend.d gluelayer.d
+
+DMD_SRCS=$(FRONT_SRCS) $(GLUE_SRCS)
 
 # Glue layer
 GLUEOBJ=glue.obj msc.obj s2ir.obj todt.obj e2ir.obj tocsym.obj \
@@ -188,7 +191,8 @@ GLUESRC= glue.c msc.c s2ir.c todt.c e2ir.c tocsym.c \
 	toobj.c tocvdebug.c toir.h toir.c \
 	irstate.h iasm.c \
 	toelfdebug.d libelf.d scanelf.d libmach.d scanmach.d \
-	tk.c eh.c objc_glue_stubs.c objc_glue.c gluestub.d
+	tk.c eh.c objc_glue_stubs.c objc_glue.c \
+	$(GLUE_SRCS)
 
 # D back end
 BACKSRC= $C\cdef.h $C\cc.h $C\oper.h $C\ty.h $C\optabgen.c \
@@ -244,7 +248,7 @@ MAKEFILES=win32.mak posix.mak osmodel.mak
 
 defaulttarget: debdmd
 
-auto-tester-build: dmd checkwhitespace
+auto-tester-build: dmd checkwhitespace dmd_frontend.exe
 
 dmd: reldmd
 
@@ -272,6 +276,9 @@ backend.lib : $(BACKOBJ)
 
 LIBS= glue.lib backend.lib
 
+dmd_frontend.exe: $(FRONT_SRCS) gluelayer.d $(ROOT_SRCS) newdelete.obj verstr.h
+	$(HOST_DC) $(DSRC) -of$@ -vtls -J. -L/STACK:8388608 $(DFLAGS) $(FRONT_SRCS) gluelayer.d $(ROOT_SRCS) newdelete.obj -version=NoBackend
+
 $(TARGETEXE): $(DMD_SRCS) $(ROOT_SRCS) newdelete.obj $(LIBS) verstr.h
 	$(HOST_DC) $(DSRC) -of$@ -vtls -J. -L/STACK:8388608 $(DFLAGS) $(DMD_SRCS) $(ROOT_SRCS) newdelete.obj $(LIBS)