Compiler may not known, but there are certain things, like ergonomics and usability, and this is where compiler's authors failed. In case of basic stamp, you need to press only one(!) button to let software know which chip you're using, and it will take care, not allowing you to put in the commands that aren't supported by selected chip and so on. This is so hard to implement? even for 250 chips? OK, maybe not 250 buttons, but some panel of choices, where you put checkmarks next to required clock speed, oscillator type, direction of ports and so on.