Computer language processing

Summary

We teach the fundamental aspects of analyzing and interpreting computer languages, including the techniques to build compilers. You will build a working compiler from an elegant functional language into machine code using a popular backend called LLVM (https://llvm.org)

Content

Keywords

programming language; compiler; interpreter; regular expression; context-free grammar;
type system; code generation; static code analysis

Learning Prerequisites

Recommended courses

MATH-260(a) Discrete Mathematics

CS-251 Theory of Computation

CS-214 Software Construction

CS-200 Computer Architecture

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

• Design a programming language
• Construct a compiler
• Coordinate development with project partner
• Formulate correctness conditions for compiler
• Estimate time to implement a programming language feature
• Produce a working programming language implementation
• Decide which language features make implementation difficult
• Specify programming language and compiler functionality

Transversal skills

• Assess progress against the plan, and adapt the plan as appropriate.
• Evaluate one's own performance in the team, receive and respond appropriately to feedback.
• Respect the rules of the institution in which you are working.
• Continue to work through difficulties or initial failure to find optimal solutions.
• Demonstrate a capacity for creativity.
• Take feedback (critique) and respond in an appropriate manner.
• Make an oral presentation.
• Write a scientific or technical report.

Teaching methods

Lectures, exercises, labs

Expected student activities

• Follow lectures
• Project work, independently and under supervision of assistants

Assessment methods

See https://gitlab.epfl.ch/lara/cs320/-/blob/main/info/grading.md

Supervision

Resources

Bibliography

See https://gitlab.epfl.ch/lara/cs320/-/blob/main/info/books.md

including

Andrew W. Appel, Modern compiler implementation in Java (or ML), Addison-Wesley 1997 (full PDF available from EPFL library)

Alfred V. Aho, Monica S. Lam, Ravi Sethi, Jeffrey D. Ullman: Compilers: Principles, Techniques, and Tools (2nd Edition, 2006)

Notes/Handbook

See slides on the course web page

Websites

• https://gitlab.epfl.ch/lara/cs320

Videos

• http:// See course web site for links