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COMP3637: Compiler Design

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Type	Open
Level	3
Credits	10
Availability	Available in 2024/2025
Module Cap	None.
Location	Durham
Department	Computer Science

Prerequisites

COMP1071 Computer Systems AND COMP2181 Theory of Computation AND COMP2221 Programming Paradigms

Corequisites

None

Excluded Combinations of Modules

None

Aims

To understand how a compiler for a high-level programming language works.
Develop implementation skills for writing practical components of a compiler, including parsing, analysis, code generation, and optimisation.
Appreciate how the design of programming languages is affected by compiler considerations.
Conduct two classroom case studies how compiler technology is used to create landscape around domain-specific languages.

Content

Compiler frontend: Foundations of compiler theory and techniques for lexical analysis, syntax analysis and semantic analysis.
Compiler backend: Intermediate representations (IRs), optimisation on IRs, machine code generation and register allocation.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

An understanding of the theory and practice of compiler design.

Subject-specific Skills:

The ability to work with and reason about abstract theoretical computer science problems and to apply them to practical aspects of compiler design.
Recognition and appreciation of appropriate design patterns in the implementation of compiler components.

Key Skills:

An ability to communicate technical information in a scientific fashion.
An understanding of theoretical concepts of compiler design and their practical use.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

Lectures enable the students to learn new material related to the above content.
Formative exercises enable students to apply the material from lectures and enhance their understanding.
The exam assesses the application of methods and techniques and the synthesis of the core concepts of the course.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total
lectures	20	2 per week (1 per week in weeks 5 and 10)	1 hour	20
problem classes	2	1 in week 5; 1 in week 10	1 hour	2
preparation and reading				78
total				100

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination		Component Weighting: 100%
Element	Length / Duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Examination	2 hours	100	No

Formative Assessment

Through example exercises and problem sheets during the course.

More information

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