Compiler
Construction

This comprehensive program explores compiler design and implementation from first principles. Students progress through each compilation phase, building functional components that transform source code into executable instructions. The curriculum balances theoretical foundations with hands-on implementation, ensuring participants understand both the algorithms and their practical application.

Starting with lexical analysis and tokenization, the course advances through parser construction using both hand-written recursive descent and generated parsers. Students implement semantic analysis phases including type checking and symbol table management. The program covers intermediate representation design, various optimization techniques, and code generation for multiple target architectures.

Advanced topics include register allocation algorithms, garbage collection implementation, and just-in-time compilation techniques. Participants work with LLVM infrastructure to understand modern compiler toolchains. By course completion, students will have constructed a working compiler capable of translating a substantial subset of C or implementing their own domain-specific language.

The program utilizes industry-standard compiler development tools and frameworks. Students work extensively with LLVM infrastructure for backend implementation, gaining experience with its intermediate representation and optimization passes. Flex and Bison provide traditional lexer and parser generation capabilities, while participants also implement hand-written alternatives to understand underlying mechanisms.

Development occurs primarily in C++ for compiler implementation, with support for other implementation languages based on project requirements. Students use Git for version control and employ comprehensive test suites to validate compiler correctness. Debugging tools include GDB for compiler debugging and custom trace facilities for understanding compilation phases.

This program targets software developers interested in language design and implementation. Computer science students exploring compilers as a specialization area find the hands-on approach valuable for understanding theoretical concepts. Professional developers working on domain-specific languages, interpreter development, or language tooling benefit from comprehensive coverage of compilation techniques.

Prerequisites include solid programming experience in C or C++, understanding of data structures and algorithms, and basic knowledge of computer architecture. Familiarity with parsing concepts helps but is not required, as the course covers necessary theory. Experience with object-oriented programming and recursive algorithms provides useful background for implementing compiler phases.