I've been mainly programming in Python at school, but I'm looking to dive deeper over the summer by learning C or assembly. I have some background knowledge on how computers work and I'm really interested in understanding what goes into writing a compiler. Although I want to create it in assembly, I know it could be complex. I'm okay with it not being highly optimized as long as it functions correctly. I'm planning to start with 'The C Programming Language' by Dennis Ritchie and Brian Kernighan to get comfortable with C. I'd love to hear any advice on what I should focus on before I attempt to write my own compiler from scratch!
5 Answers
If you're looking for a solid foundational resource, check out the 'Tiger Book'. It's a comprehensive guide on compiler construction that can really help you out as you start building your own.
Don't forget about the importance of understanding trees and graphs, as you’ll be working with them a lot in the compilation process. They help structure data that your compiler will use.
Before jumping into compiler writing, try to grasp the basics of state machines; they will help a lot with understanding how compilation processes work.
Building a compiler is one of the best educational projects you can take on! It’ll teach you about everything from programming languages to system design. Just jump in; you don't have to know it all right now. Here’s a rough roadmap:
1. **Parsing + Grammar**: Start with how your code will be structured. Defining a grammar will really help in parsing input. Look into parsing techniques like recursive descent.
2. **AST (Abstract Syntax Tree)**: Represent the code structure with nodes for elements (like `ASTNumber` or `ASTFunction`). This becomes critical for your compiler’s functionality.
3. **Semantic Analysis**: Validate logic in your AST, checking for things like undefined variables and type errors.
4. **Code Generation**: Decide if you want to interpret your AST directly or compile it to code. Generating assembly directly can be challenging but great for learning!
5. **Expect Iteration**: You’ll likely break and remake things a lot while learning, and that's totally fine! Building is what seals the knowledge.
And don’t forget to check out examples online; they can help pieces click together. Good luck, you’re embarking on a rewarding journey!
Lots of great advice! Also, remember you'll want to implement a lexer before jumping into parsing. Tools like ANTLR4 or GNU flex can be a good start for that.
If you want something simpler to kick off with, consider creating a text adventure game instead! The input parsing and state management are similar to compiler design, and it’ll give you a hands-on approach to the concepts you'll need later.
Thanks for the suggestion! I'll make sure to read it once I get more familiar with C.