Case Study: Compiler Design
Objective
To design a compiler for a simple programming language, MiniLang, supporting basic
arithmetic, variable declarations, and control flow (if-else, loops).
Phases of the Compiler Design
1. Lexical Analysis
Objective: Break the source code into tokens (lexemes).
Tools/Methods:
- Use tools like Lex/Flex or write a custom lexer.
- Define the grammar for tokens: identifiers, keywords, operators, literals, etc.
Example Input:
int x = 10;
if (x > 5) { x = x + 1; }
Output Tokens:
int, x, =, 10, if, (, x, >, 5, ), {, x, =, x, +, 1, }
2. Syntax Analysis
Objective: Parse tokens into a syntax tree (Abstract Syntax Tree, AST).
Tools/Methods:
- Use Yacc/Bison or write a recursive-descent parser.
- Define a context-free grammar (CFG) for MiniLang.
Example Grammar Rules:
stmt → decl | assign | if_stmt
decl → 'int' id '=' expr ';'
assign → id '=' expr ';'
if_stmt → 'if' '(' cond ')' '{' stmt_list '}'
AST Example (for `x = x + 1;`):
Assignment
├── Variable: x
└── Expression:
├── Variable: x
├── Operator: +
└── Literal: 1
3. Semantic Analysis
Objective: Check semantic correctness (type checking, variable scoping, etc.).
Tasks:
- Symbol table management (e.g., storing variable names, types, and scope).
- Type checking (e.g., ensuring integers are added correctly).
Example:
- Variable `x` must be declared before use.
- Ensure `x > 5` results in a boolean.
4. Intermediate Code Generation
Objective: Generate a simpler, intermediate representation (IR).
IR Format Example: Three-address code
t1 = 5
t2 = x > t1
if t2 goto L1
goto L2
L1: t3 = x + 1
x = t3
L2:
5. Code Optimization
Objective: Improve IR for performance without changing output.
Optimizations:
- Constant folding (e.g., `x = 5 + 2` → `x = 7`).
- Dead code elimination.
- Loop unrolling.
6. Code Generation
Objective: Translate IR into machine code or assembly for the target architecture.
Example Output:
MOV R1, 5
CMP R2, R1 ; Compare x > 5
JLE L2 ; Jump to L2 if less than or equal
ADD R2, 1 ; x = x + 1
MOV x, R2
L2:
7. Error Handling
Objective: Provide meaningful error messages at each stage.
Types of Errors:
- Lexical: Invalid characters.
- Syntax: Missing `;` or unbalanced parentheses.
- Semantic: Undeclared variables or type mismatches.
8. Testing and Debugging
Test Cases:
- Basic statements: `int x = 10;`
- Control flow: `if (x > 5) { x = x + 1; }`
- Loops and nested structures.
Debugging Tools:
- Step through each phase.
- Print intermediate representations (tokens, AST, IR).
Implementation Tools
Programming Language: C, C++, Java, Python.
Libraries: Lex/Yacc, LLVM (for IR and backend).
Development Environment: GCC/Clang, Visual Studio Code, or Eclipse.
Challenges and Lessons
- Optimization Trade-offs: Balancing speed vs. memory usage.
- Error Recovery: Ensuring the compiler continues parsing after encountering errors.
- Portability: Adapting to different architectures using tools like LLVM.
