Re: Teaching compilers and programming languages together...

Ehud Lamm <mslamm@pluto.mscc.huji.ac.il> writes:


>It is indeed a good question, wether it is a good idea to show
>compilation and parsing techniques using features of unique programming
>languages. SNOBOL and Icon for example give the programmer tools that may
>help him craft a simple compiler fast - but these are not the general
>methods usually taught.
>Should we concentrate on the theory - teaching the general algorithms
>from the Dragon book - or can we focus on relatively "fringe" approaches,
>which may help the students grasp the beauty of compiling?


This could also depend on how long the class is. If it is a relative
short duration then I would tone down on the theory, and try to get
them "hooked" with, what you might call, the beauty of compilation.


UofO runs on a quarters system. When Professor Clinger was here he
taught two classes for compilers: one for theory and another geared to
implementing. That could be another option time permitting.




(raig
-------------------------------------------------------------
Craig Smith
Graduate Student Carpe A Cappellam
University of Oregon
Eugene, OR
chs@cs.uoregon.edu Xyplex SNMP MIB Consultant
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