Rigal is a programming language whose main data structures are atoms, lists and trees. The control structures are based on advanced pattern matching. All phases of compilation, including parsing, optimization and code generation, can be programmed in this language in short and readable form. Rigal is intended to be a tool for parsing ( context checking, diagnosing and neutralization of errors included ), for code optimization, code generation, static analysis of programs, as well as for the programming of preprocessors and converters.