Compilers - 2008


This page contains information of importance to the Compilers course, running in the Spring term from January to March 2008. It points to the course schedule, practical exercises, sample files required for the exercises and also to other non-local resources which could be of use during the course.

Course schedule and notes

Here is the course schedule, including the syllabus, the lecture timetable, a reading list and other general information. The course notes are available as a PDF file.

Practical exercise

The practical exercise for 2008 consists of three parts. The first is a programming exercise, the second is a peer assessment of the first programming exercise and the third is another programming exercise (an extension of the first). The first is due on Thursday 7th February 2008 (week 5), the second on Thursday 14th February (week 6) and the third on Thursday 13th March (week 10). The details of the assignment appear here.

This exercise is concerned with the development of a top-down compiler for a simple language (DL0) and a simple target architecture (DM0). The C source code of the DM0 emulator is obtainable here. This may help if you want to run the emulator on your home machine. And a Windows binary is available here. I've also placed two test "programs" in a directory. These may be helpful when testing your practical exercise and you should submit the output from your programs when run on the appropriate test file. Remember that I'm expecting you to make up your own test programs too. That forms an important part of the exercise.

External links


Last modified: January 29, 2008.
Des Watson - desw@sussex.ac.uk