Compiler Design

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Compilers for high-level programming languages are complex software systems with distinct characteristics. Their functionality is well-defined, ideally supported by comprehensive descriptions of source and target languages, as well as interfaces to operating systems and libraries. Implementing application systems directly in machine language is challenging and error-prone, leading to rapid obsolescence. The rise of higher-level machine-independent programming languages necessitated the development of compilers that translate programs into machine language. This fundamental challenge has spurred extensive research on compilation subtasks since the 1950s. The authors present a nuanced view of compiler design, emphasizing the importance of precise specifications for these subtasks rather than providing a simple cookbook. This first volume in a multivolume set outlines the compiler's role in establishing correspondence between source and target programs. It introduces a suitable virtual machine and details the compilation process for various programming paradigms, including imperative, functional, logic, and object-oriented languages. Aimed at computer science students, the book assumes knowledge of at least one imperative programming language and suggests familiarity with modern functional languages and Prolog for certain chapters. Throughout, it includes examples, exercises, and program fragments to enhance understanding.