面向教室又面向对象的程序设计语言编译器。COOL compiler

THIS IS A WORK-IN-PROGRESS

This post will be a summary of programming assignments of this free course on edx. These programming assignments builds a compiler for the COOL programming. This language is a bit odd and quirky but it’s quite more complex than the language of a previous work. Compared that project, this compiler for COOL seems more serious and covers more ground in the field of compiling. Do note that aforementioned interpreter project has a sequel that builds a compilers where a VM and byte code is designed and implemented. This COOL compiler will compile to MIPS assembly which is a well established architecture.

I am quite surprised to see that prompted by my paragraph above, Bing Compose is able to generate the following content. Besides being quite generic and lacking personality, it does not quite capture my experience working with these programming assignments. I think its style is more akin to those marketing brochures. However, I do believe that given further prompts, it is able to generate better content.

Hi there! In this blog post, I’m going to share with you my experience of taking a free course on edx that teaches how to build a compiler for the COOL programming language. If you’re interested in learning more about compilers and how they work, this course might be a good fit for you.

What is COOL?

COOL stands for Classroom Object-Oriented Language. It is a computer programming language designed by Alexander Aiken for use in an undergraduate compiler course project . COOL resembles many modern programming languages, including features such as objects, static typing, automatic memory management, and simple reflection . COOL is not meant to be a practical language for real-world applications, but rather a pedagogical tool for learning about compiler design and implementation.

What does the course cover?

The course is called “Compilers: Theory and Practice” and it’s offered by Stanford University on edx. The course consists of six modules that cover different aspects of compiler construction:

• Lexical analysis
• Parsing
• Semantic analysis
• Code generation
• Optimization
• Runtime systems

Each module has video lectures, quizzes, readings, and a programming assignment. The programming assignments are the main focus of the course, as they require you to implement various components of a COOL compiler using C++ and Flex/Bison. The assignments are graded automatically using an online submission system.

What did I learn?

I learned a lot from this course about how compilers work and how to write one from scratch. Some of the topics that I found particularly interesting and challenging were:

• How to use regular expressions and finite automata to recognize tokens in a source program
• How to use context-free grammars and parsing algorithms to build abstract syntax trees
• How to use symbol tables and type checking rules to perform semantic analysis
• How to use code generation techniques such as register allocation and instruction selection to produce MIPS assembly code
• How to use optimization techniques such as dead code elimination and constant folding to improve the performance of the generated code
• How to use runtime systems such as stack frames and garbage collection to manage memory allocation

I also learned how to use some tools that are commonly used in compiler development, such as:

• Flex: A tool for generating scanners (lexical analyzers) from regular expressions
• Bison: A tool for generating parsers (syntax analyzers) from context-free grammars
• Spim: A MIPS simulator that can execute assembly code generated by the COOL compiler

How did I find the course?

I found the course very engaging and rewarding. The lectures were clear and concise, the quizzes were helpful for checking my understanding, the readings were informative and relevant, and the assignments were challenging but fun. The instructors were very knowledgeable and responsive, answering questions on the discussion forums or via email. The online submission system was easy to use and provided instant feedback on my solutions.

The only downside of the course was that it was quite demanding in terms of time commitment. Each assignment took me several hours or even days to complete, depending on its complexity. I had to balance my time between watching lectures, doing quizzes, reading materials, coding solutions, testing them, and debugging them. It was not an easy task, especially since I had other commitments outside of this course. However, I think it was worth it, as I gained valuable skills and knowledge that will help me in my future endeavors.

Who should take this course?

This course is suitable for anyone who has some background in programming (preferably C++) and wants to learn more about compilers. It is not necessary to have prior experience with compilers or assembly language, but it would be helpful if you have some familiarity with basic concepts such as data structures, algorithms, and discrete mathematics. The course is also suitable for anyone who enjoys solving problems, learning new things, and creating something cool (pun intended) programs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this course was one of the best online courses I’ve ever taken. It taught me how to build a compiler for a fairly complex programming language using modern tools and techniques. It also challenged me intellectually and creatively, making me think deeply about various aspects of compiler design and implementation. I highly recommend this course to anyone who wants to learn more about compilers or just have some fun with programming.

If you’re interested in taking this course, you can find it here: https://www.edx.org/course/compilers-theory-and-practice

Thanks for reading!