Article

Hide and show: using real compiler code for teaching

Authors:

Elizabeth White,

Ranjan Sen,

Nina StewartAuthors Info & Claims

SIGCSE '05: Proceedings of the 36th SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education

Pages 12 - 16

https://doi.org/10.1145/1047344.1047365

Published: 23 February 2005 Publication History

Get Access

Abstract

In this paper, we present a novel approach that enables students in graduate compiler courses to examine and experiment with a real compiler without becoming overwhelmed by complexity. The key to the idea is the use of a debugger directly on a compiler during the compilation process. By providing instructions on breakpoints and variables of interest, the student is only shown the relevant portions of the compiler; the rest is hidden. We describe our strategy of using exercise sessions targeted toward illustration of core compiler concepts such as lexical analysis, parsing and code generation.

References

[1]

ACM Computing Curricula 2001 - Appendix A: CS Body of Knowledge http://www.computer.org/education/cc2001/final/pl.htm

Google Scholar

[2]

Aho. A.V et al. Compilers -- Principles, Techniques and Tools, Addison-Wesley. 1988.

Digital Library

Google Scholar

[3]

Aiken, A. Cool: a portable project for teaching compiler construction. ACM SIGPLAN Notices, Volume 31 Issue 7 (July 1996).

Digital Library

Google Scholar

[4]

Appelbe, B. Teaching Compiler Development. Proceedings of the 10th SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer Science Education (January 1979).

Digital Library

Google Scholar

[5]

Baldwin, D. A Compiler for Teaching about Compilers. Proceedings of the 34th SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer Science Education (March 2003).

Digital Library

Google Scholar

[6]

ECMA C# and Common Language Infrastructure. Standards. http://www.dotnetexperts.com/ecma

Google Scholar

[7]

Levine, J., T. Mason and D. Brown, lex & yacc, O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., 1995.

Digital Library

Google Scholar

[8]

Microsoft Developer Network Academic Alliance. www.msdnaa.net

Google Scholar

[9]

Prey, J.C. Cooperative learning and closed laboratories in an undergraduate Computer Science curriculum. Integrating Technology into Computer Science Education. ACM SIGCSE, SIGCSE Bulletin, Volume 28, Special Issue, 1996.

Digital Library

Google Scholar

[10]

Sathi, H.L. A project-based course in compiler construction. Proceedings of the 17th SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer Science Education (February 1986).

Digital Library

Google Scholar

[11]

Shared Source Common Language Infrastructure (SSCLI). www.microsoft.com/sharedsource, http://msdn.microsoft.com/net/sscli

Google Scholar

[12]

Stutz, D. et al. Shared Source CLI, O'Reilly, 2003.

Google Scholar

[13]

White, E., L. Deddens, J. Ruby. Software Visualization of LR parsing and Syntax Directed Translation, Software: Practice and Experience, 29,1, January 1999.

Digital Library

Google Scholar

Cited By

View all

Rodriguez-Cerezo DHenriques PSierra J(2014)Attribute grammars made easier: EvDebugger a visual debugger for attribute grammars2014 International Symposium on Computers in Education (SIIE)10.1109/SIIE.2014.7017699(23-28)Online publication date: Nov-2014
https://doi.org/10.1109/SIIE.2014.7017699
Barrón-Estrada MZatarain-Cabada RZatarain-Cabada RGarcía C(2010)A hybrid learning compiler courseProceedings of the Third international conference on Hybrid learning10.5555/1884419.1884446(229-238)Online publication date: 16-Aug-2010
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.5555/1884419.1884446
Gondow KFukuyasu NArahori YLewandowski GWolfman SCortina TWalker E(2010)MieruCompilerProceedings of the 41st ACM technical symposium on Computer science education10.1145/1734263.1734268(7-11)Online publication date: 10-Mar-2010
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1734263.1734268
Show More Cited By

Index Terms

Hide and show: using real compiler code for teaching
1. Software and its engineering
  1. Software creation and management
    1. Software verification and validation
      1. Software defect analysis
        Software testing and debugging
  2. Software notations and tools
    1. Compilers
      1. Parsers
      2. Source code generation

Recommendations

Hide and show: using real compiler code for teaching

In this paper, we present a novel approach that enables students in graduate compiler courses to examine and experiment with a real compiler without becoming overwhelmed by complexity. The key to the idea is the use of a debugger directly on a compiler ...
A simple separate compilation mechanism for block-structured languages

A very simple and efficient technique for the introduction of separate compilation facilities into compilers for block-structured languages is presented. Using this technique, programs may be compiled in parts while the compile-time checking advantages ...
Language extension and composition with language workbenches
OOPSLA '10: Proceedings of the ACM international conference companion on Object oriented programming systems languages and applications companion

Domain-specific languages (DSLs) provide high expressive power focused on a particular problem domain. They provide linguistic abstractions and specialized syntax specifically designed for a domain, allowing developers to avoid boilerplate code and low-...

Comments

Information & Contributors

Information

Published In

SIGCSE '05: Proceedings of the 36th SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education

February 2005

610 pages

ISBN:1581139977

DOI:10.1145/1047344

Conference Chairs:
Wanda Dann
Ithaca College
,
Tom Naps
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
,
Program Chairs:
Paul Tymann
Rochester Institute of Technology
,
Doug Baldwin
SUNY Geneseo

ACM SIGCSE Bulletin Volume 37, Issue 1
2005
562 pages
ISSN:0097-8418
DOI:10.1145/1047124
Issue’s Table of Contents

Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than ACM must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. Request permissions from [email protected]

Publisher

Association for Computing Machinery

New York, NY, United States

Publication History

Published: 23 February 2005

Permissions

Request permissions for this article.

Request Permissions

Check for updates

Author Tags

Qualifiers

Article

Conference

SIGCSE05

Sponsor:

SIGCSE05: Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education

February 23 - 27, 2005

Missouri, St. Louis, USA

Acceptance Rates

Overall Acceptance Rate 1,787 of 5,146 submissions, 35%

Upcoming Conference

SIGCSE TS 2025

Sponsor:
sigcse

The 56th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education

February 26 - March 1, 2025

Pittsburgh , PA , USA

Contributors

Other Metrics

View Article Metrics

Bibliometrics & Citations

Bibliometrics

Article Metrics

5
Total Citations
View Citations
298
Total Downloads

Downloads (Last 12 months)3
Downloads (Last 6 weeks)2

Reflects downloads up to 18 Feb 2025

Other Metrics

View Author Metrics

Citations

Cited By

View all

Rodriguez-Cerezo DHenriques PSierra J(2014)Attribute grammars made easier: EvDebugger a visual debugger for attribute grammars2014 International Symposium on Computers in Education (SIIE)10.1109/SIIE.2014.7017699(23-28)Online publication date: Nov-2014
https://doi.org/10.1109/SIIE.2014.7017699
Barrón-Estrada MZatarain-Cabada RZatarain-Cabada RGarcía C(2010)A hybrid learning compiler courseProceedings of the Third international conference on Hybrid learning10.5555/1884419.1884446(229-238)Online publication date: 16-Aug-2010
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.5555/1884419.1884446
Gondow KFukuyasu NArahori YLewandowski GWolfman SCortina TWalker E(2010)MieruCompilerProceedings of the 41st ACM technical symposium on Computer science education10.1145/1734263.1734268(7-11)Online publication date: 10-Mar-2010
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1734263.1734268
Kundra DSureka A(2016)An Experience Report on Teaching Compiler Design Concepts Using Case-Based and Project-Based Learning Approaches2016 IEEE Eighth International Conference on Technology for Education (T4E)10.1109/T4E.2016.052(216-219)Online publication date: Dec-2016
https://doi.org/10.1109/T4E.2016.052
Barrón-Estrada MZatarain-Cabada RZatarain-Cabada RReyes García C(2010)A Hybrid Learning Compiler CourseHybrid Learning10.1007/978-3-642-14657-2_21(229-238)Online publication date: 2010
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-14657-2_21

View Options

Login options

Check if you have access through your login credentials or your institution to get full access on this article.

Full Access

Get this Publication

View options

PDF

View or Download as a PDF file.

PDF

eReader

View online with eReader.

eReader

Abstract

References

Cited By

Index Terms

Recommendations