Modern Compiler Implementation in Java: Basic Techniques

by Andrew W. Appel

This textbook explains all phases of a modern compiler: lexical analysis, parsing, abstract syntax, semantic actions, intermediate representations, instruction selection via tree matching, dataflow analysis, graph-colouring register allocation with coalescing, and runtime systems. It covers current techniques in code generation and register allocation, as well as functional and object-oriented languages, which are missing from most books on the topic. The author illustrates the most accepted and successful techniques in a concise way, rather than as an exhaustive catalogue of every possible variant. Detailed descriptions of the interfaces between modules of a compiler are illustrated with actual Java classes. A unique feature of the book is a well designed compiler implementation project in Java, including front-end and 'high-tech' back-end phases, so that students can build a complete working compiler in one semester. The textbook is meant for use in a one-semester first course for undergraduates in compiler design. Accompanying support software is available.

Genres: Computer Science, Programming, Software, Textbooks, Nonfiction, Technology

408 pages, Paperback

First published January 13, 1997

About the author

Andrew W. Appel, Ph.D. (Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, 1985; A.B., Princeton University, 1981) is the Eugene Higgins Professor of Computer Science at Princeton University, where he has been on the faculty since 1986. He served as department chair from 2009 to 2015. His research is in software verification, computer security, programming languages and compilers, and technology policy.

He has been editor-in-chief of ACM Transactions on Programming Languages and Systems and is a fellow of the ACM (Association for Computing Machinery). He has worked on fast N-body algorithms (1980s), Standard ML of New Jersey (1990s), Foundational Proof-Carrying Code (2000s), and the Verified Software Toolchain (2010s). He is the author of several scientific papers on voting machines and election technology, served as an expert witness on two voting-related court cases in New Jersey, and has taught a course at Princeton on election machinery.

Reviews

[Nick Black · Rating 1 out of 5]

As no compiler written in Java would be worth using, I'm rather mystified as to the purpose of this book. Perhaps Appel let a retarded nephew of Bill Joy into his research group; I don't know, and I don't care to know.

Besides the ridiculous concept, the garish color is almost as obnoxious as FifteenJavaProgrammersUpOnYourNuts all UsingMixedCase with StupidlyLongIdentifiers and AskingIfWeCanEatLunchSomewhereThatSupportsEclipse hatehatehate!

[Jan Kroken · Rating 2 out of 5]

too dated

[Mircea Lungu · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are using this as one of the main textbooks for the Compiler Construction at the University of Bern.

[Zhi Han]

Reading the tiger book as I am reading some papers on compilers.