Re: [QUERY] A "ignorant newbie" question about compiler-writing.

synaptik@why.net (synaptik) writes:


> I am interesting it "trying my hand" at writing a 'C' compiler. I
> have read this news group a bit, and I understand that compiler
> development tools (such as "lexx" and "yacc") exist for this very
> purpose. I am a "basement hobbyist" who's hobby is programming. It
> is safe to assume that I have not taken any compiler theory courses;
> but I have flipped through a few books on the subject (probably even
> the "dragon" book.)


It is, sort of. At the risk of being heretical here, I would suggest
that compilers are among the simplest software currently being
written. Think of it, no asynchronous events to handle:-).


What makes it hard(er) is that the programmers don't cooperate. If
you accept that the compiler just aborts after the first error, it
will be a lot simpler. Of course, I'd never buy such a compiler:-).


Finally, the languages all seem to have an awkward corner, which
doesn't fit any of the theories. (C has several, but even Pascal
requires some hacks.)


--
James Kanze +33 (0)1 39 55 85 62 email: kanze@gabi-soft.fr
GABI Software, Sarl., 22 rue Jacques-Lemercier, 78000 Versailles, France
--

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