Front Door

Welcome to the Spring 2001 session of Grinnell College's CSC 362, Compilers. In this course, we will consider both theoretical and practical issues in the implementation of compilers for programming languages (translators from high-level languages like Pascal to low-level languages, like assembler or machine code).

I consider compilers one of the most fun courses to teach (and take) because it provides an excellent opportunity to consider the relationship between theory (in particular, theory you'll learn in 341) and practice.

In an attempt to provide up-to-date information, and to spare a few trees, I am making this as much of a "paperless" course as I can. You may also want to read the basic instructions for using this course web.

Meets: MWF 11:00-11:50 in Science 2435. Labs are Thursdays at either 10:00-10:50 or 1:15-2:05 in 2417.

Instructor: Samuel A. Rebelsky, Science 2427. Office hours Monday 2:15-4:05 and Wednesday 1:15-3:05.

Teaching Assistant: Rachel M. Heck. Office hours tbd.

Grading: Programming project: 30%; Written assignment: 30%; Exams: 40% (20% midterm, 20% final); Presentations: 10%; Extra credit: varies

Textbook: Aho, Alfred, Sethi, Ravi, and Ullman, Jeffrey (1986). Compilers: Principles, Techniques, Tools. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

The classic text on compilers, typically referred to as The Red Dragon Book. Somewhat dense, and doesn't cover newer topics (such as garbage collection) but you'll be glad to have it as a reference when the semester is done.

Optional text: To be determined. (A text on the Java Virtual machine.)

It looks like we'll be using the JVM as our target language (subject to some discussion) so I'll come up with a reference when it's appropriate to do so.