COMP 412: Topics in Compiler Construction
Tim Harvey
Department of Computer Science
Rice University
Houston, Texas, USA
Fall 2008: Room 1046, Duncan Hall, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 11:00am

Notes

Summary

Comp 412 provides the student with an overview of the issues that arise in the design and construction of translators for programming languages. The course emphasizes techniques that have direct application to the construction of compilers. However, many of the same concepts find application in the implementation of interpreters.

The course consists of lectures, homework assignments, exams, and several laboratory exercises. The schedule for when these will be released or handed out will be posted soon. The lectures correspond, with a few detours, to a front-to-back tour of a compiler. The programming exercises attempt to illuminate particular problems. Students will not build a complete compiler in the course.

We will use the book Engineering a Compiler, by Cooper and Torczon, published by the Morgan-Kaufmann imprint of Elsevier. Copies can be purchased at the Rice Campus bookstore or your favorite online retailer. Be sure to visit the Errata site. (Profits equal to the number of enrolled students are donated to a scholarship fund at Rice University.)

A number of other texts will be on reserve in Fondren Library. They can provide additional sources of enlightenment and alternative views of the material in Engineering a Compiler.

Lecture Notes

I will post PDF-format copies of the slides used in class as they become available.

Programming Assignments

The class will have three major programming exercises. The materials for the labs will only be available online. The teaching assistants will establish a newsgroup for discussion of the course and the programming assignments.

Homework

The class may have periodic homework assignments. These are only posted online.

Supplemental Material

Personnel

Comp 412 Home Last modified Wednesday, 26-Nov-2008 17:20:32 CST.