Introduction to Compilers and Language Design

(dthain.github.io)

70 points | by AlexeyBrin 3 hours ago ago

5 comments

  • madrajib 41 minutes ago

    Love such topics and articles in midst of AI topics/noise.

  • shuyang 24 minutes ago

    Took Dr. Thain's compilers class in college! It was the best. He's an excellent instructor, and the course project made me build a working C-style compiler step by step. I think the sample project here is pretty much the project we did; highly recommend following through the entire thing!

  • jdw64 35 minutes ago

    Sometimes I see people who design languages and build compilers, and I find them truly amazing. I once tried making a language myself because I was curious, but it was so difficult that I just settled for a simple C backend. The people contributing to LLVM probably know everything down to assembly generation. they're truly incredible.

    • t-3 23 minutes ago

      Assembly generation is actually pretty simple, it's optimizing everything that's difficult. Writing an assembler is a great way to get acquainted with compiler construction, because you don't need to think about optimization and types and the other features that make high level languages complicated aren't needed.

      • jdw64 22 minutes ago

        I keep saying 'someday...' and never actually doing it because of making a living, but this time I think I should try a few small examples