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MEng Computer Science with Industrial Experience / Course details

Year of entry: 2021

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Course unit details:
Compilers

Unit code	COMP36511
Credit rating	10
Unit level	Level 3
Teaching period(s)	Semester 1
Offered by	Department of Computer Science
Available as a free choice unit?	No

Overview

Any program written in any programming language must be translated before it can be executed on a certain piece of hardware. This translation is typically accomplished by a software system called compiler. This module aims to introduce students to the principles and techniques used to perform this translation and the key issues that arise in the construction of modern compilers.

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title	Unit code	Requirement type	Description
Mathematical Techniques for Computer Science (10 credits)	COMP11111	Pre-Requisite	Compulsory
Mathematical Techniques for Computer Science	COMP11120	Pre-Requisite	Compulsory
Foundations of Pure Mathematics B	MATH10111	Pre-Requisite	Compulsory
Calculus and Vectors B	MATH10131	Pre-Requisite	Compulsory
Linear Algebra B	MATH10212	Pre-Requisite	Compulsory
Calculus and Applications B	MATH10232	Pre-Requisite	Compulsory
	MATH10662	Pre-Requisite	Compulsory
	MATH10672	Pre-Requisite	Compulsory

Students who are not from the Department of Computer Science must have permission from both Computer Science and their home School to enrol.

Pre-requisites

To enrol students are required to have taken COMP11120 or one of the following: COMP11111, MATH10111, MATH10131, MATH10212, MATH10232, MATH10662, MATH10672

Aims

Any program written in a programming language must be translated before it can be executed. This translation is typically accomplished by a software system called compiler. This module aims to introduce students to the principles and techniques used to perform this translation and the issues that arise in the construction of a compiler.

Learning outcomes

Describe the principles governing all phases of the compilation process.
Explain the role of each of the basic components of a standard compiler.
Outline the problems, and discuss methods and techniques applied to each phase of the compilation process.
Apply standard techniques to solve basic problems that arise in compiler construction.
Identify how the compiler can take advantage of particular processor characteristics to generate good code.

Syllabus

Introduction

What is a compiler? A high-level view of compilation. General structure of a compiler. An overview of compilation technology.

Lexical Analysis (Scanning)

Regular languages/expressions, finite state machines, building regular expressions from a finite automaton.

Syntax Analysis (Parsing)

Expressing Syntax, Context Free Grammars, Top-Down Parsing, Bottom-Up parsing.

Semantic Analysis

Context-sensitive analysis, Attribute Grammars, Symbol Tables, Type Checking.

Intermediate Representations

Properties, taxonomy, Graphical IRs, Linear IRs.

Storage Management

The Procedure Abstraction, Linkage convention, Run-time storage organisation.

Code Generation

Code Shape, Instruction Selection, Register Allocation, Instruction Scheduling.

Topics in Compiler Construction

Code Optimisation, JIT Compilation.

Conclusions

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures

Employability skills

Analytical skills
Problem solving
Research

Assessment methods

Method	Weight
Written exam	100%

Feedback methods

Written formative feedback is provided on student solutions of a set of problems which are commonly met when designing and building compilers; there are three such sets presented during the course.

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures	24

Independent study hours
Independent study	76

Teaching staff

Staff member	Role
Rizos Sakellariou	Unit coordinator

Additional notes

Course unit materials

Links to course unit teaching materials can be found on the School of Computer Science website for current students.

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