Not currently offered
Course code

COMP6290

Units

10 units

Level

6000 level

Course handbook

Description

Compiler Design will teach students the fundamental concepts and techniques used for building a simple compiler. Focusing on both theory and practice, we will use a sample language to explore the lexical, syntactic and semantic structures of programming languages, and learn to use those structures in implementing a demonstrative compiler. The discussion will also include the examination of intermediate code states, machine code optimisation techniques and support for advanced language features. At the end of the course, students will understand different considerations and phases of compilation, the impact of language attributes upon the compilation process, the effect of hardware feature on the generated code and the practical fundamentals of compiler implementation.


Availability

Not currently offered.

This Course was last offered in Semester 2 - 2023.


Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course students will be able to:

1. Specify and analyse the lexical, syntactic and semantic structures of advanced language features

2. Separate the lexical, syntactic and semantic analysis into meaningful phases for a compiler to undertake language translation

3. Write a scanner, parser, and semantic analyser without the aid of automatic generators

4. Turn fully processed source code for a novel language into machine code for a novel computer

5. Describe techniques for intermediate code and machine code optimisation

6. Design the structures and support required for compiling advanced language features.


Content

  1. Introduction to the theory of grammars
  2. High level languages and their compilers
  3. Lexical analysis
  4. Syntactic analysis
  5. Semantic analysis
  6. Object code generation
  7. Optimisation
  8. Compiling Advanced Language Features

Requisite

This course has similarities to COMP3290. If you have successfully completed COMP3290 you cannot enrol in this course.


Assumed knowledge

SENG6120


Assessment items

Written Assignment: Essays/Written Assignment

Formal Examination: Formal exam
Compulsory Requirement: Pass requirement 40% - Must obtain 40% in this assessment item to pass the course.

Project: Projects

Course outline