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Compilers
Alex Aiken
Alex Aiken
The course lectures will be presented in short videos. To help you master the material, there will be in-lecture questions to answer, quizzes, and two exams: a midterm and a final. There will also be homework in the form of exercises that ask you to show a sequence of logical steps needed to derive a specific result, such as the sequence of steps a type checker would perform to type check a piece of code, or the sequence of steps a parser would perform to parse an input string. This checking technology is the result of ongoing research at Stanford into developing innovative tools for education, and we're excited to be the first course ever to make it available to students.
Read more
The course lectures will be presented in short videos. To help you master the material, there will be in-lecture questions to answer, quizzes, and two exams: a midterm and a final. There will also be homework in the form of exercises that ask you to show a sequence of logical steps needed to derive a specific result, such as the sequence of steps a type checker would perform to type check a piece of code, or the sequence of steps a parser would perform to parse an input string. This checking technology is the result of ongoing research at Stanford into developing innovative tools for education, and we're excited to be the first course ever to make it available to students.
Read more
The course lectures will be presented in short videos. To help you master the material, there will be in-lecture questions to answer, quizzes, and two exams: a midterm and a final. There will also be homework in the form of exercises that ask you to show a sequence of logical steps needed to derive a specific result, such as the sequence of steps a type checker would perform to type check a piece of code, or the sequence of steps a parser would perform to parse an input string. This checking technology is the result of ongoing research at Stanford into developing innovative tools for education, and we're excited to be the first course ever to make it available to students.
An optional course project is to write a complete compiler for COOL, the Classroom Object Oriented Language. COOL has the essential features of a realistic programming language, but is small and simple enough that it can be implemented in a few thousand lines of code. Students who choose to do the project can implement it in either C++ or Java.
I hope you enjoy the course!
What you'll learn
Everything that computers do is the result of some program, and all of the millions of programs in the world are written in one of the many thousands of programming languages that have been developed since the 1950’s. Designing and implementing a programming language turns out to be difficult; some of the best minds in computer science have thought about the problems involved and contributed beautiful and deep results. Learning something about compilers will show you the interplay of theory and practice in computer science, especially how powerful general ideas combined with engineering insight can lead to practical solutions to very hard problems. Knowing how a compiler works will also make you a better programmer and increase your ability to learn new programming languages quickly.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/4y253o/compiler
Good to know
Good to know
Know what's good ,
what to watch for , and
possible dealbreakers
Examines the interplay of theory and practice in computer science, especially how general ideas can lead to practical solutions
Helps learners become better programmers and increase their ability to learn programming languages
Taught by Alex Aiken who are recognized for their work in computer science
Teaches skills, knowledge, and tools that are highly relevant to industry
Teaches skills, knowledge, and tools that are useful for personal growth
Optional course project to write a complete compiler for COOL, the Classroom Object Oriented Language
Save this course
Save Compilers to your list so you can find it easily later:
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Activities
Be better prepared
before
your course. Deepen your understanding
during
and
after
it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered
in Compilers with these
activities:
Organize and review your notes and materials
Show steps
Stay organized and ensure you're prepared for exams and assessments by keeping your notes and materials up-to-date.
Show steps
-
Review your notes after each lecture
-
Organize your notes into a logical structure
-
Create summaries of key concepts
-
Practice explaining concepts to yourself
Read 'Compilers: Principles, Techniques, & Tools'
Show steps
Reinforce the concepts covered in the course by reading this classic textbook on compiler design and implementation.
View
Compilers: Principles, Techniques, and Tools
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Read one chapter per week
-
Take notes and highlight important concepts
-
Solve the exercises at the end of each chapter
Review concepts of object-oriented programming
Show steps
Get up to speed with OOP concepts like encapsulation and polymorphism before diving into compiler design and implementation.
Browse courses on
Object-Oriented Programming
Show steps
-
Read an introductory article on OOP
-
Go through an online tutorial on classes, objects, and inheritance
-
Practice writing simple OOP programs in a language like Java or Python
Six other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all nine activities
Follow a tutorial on compiler construction
Show steps
Deepen your understanding of compiler implementation by following a guided tutorial that covers the different stages of compilation.
Show steps
-
Choose a tutorial that aligns with your skill level and interests
-
Set aside dedicated time each week to work on the tutorial
-
Complete all the exercises and assignments included in the tutorial
-
Apply the concepts learned in the tutorial to your own compiler projects
Solve compiler design and implementation exercises
Show steps
Test your understanding of compiler techniques and algorithms by solving practice exercises.
Show steps
-
Find a collection of compiler design and implementation exercises online
-
Set aside regular time for practice
-
Attempt to solve the exercises on your own
Help other students in the course
Show steps
Solidify your understanding by explaining concepts to other students and answering their questions.
Show steps
-
Join the course discussion forum
-
Monitor the forum for questions
-
Provide clear and helpful answers to questions
Create a blog post or video on a compiler-related topic
Show steps
Deepen your understanding of compiler concepts by explaining them to others.
Show steps
-
Choose a compiler-related topic that you're interested in
-
Research the topic thoroughly
-
Write a blog post or create a video explaining the topic in a clear and engaging way
-
Share your content with others
Build a simple compiler for a toy language
Show steps
Gain hands-on experience in compiler construction by creating a compiler for a toy language.
Show steps
-
Choose a toy language to implement
-
Design the grammar and semantics of the toy language
-
Write the code for the compiler
-
Test the compiler on various input programs
-
Document your design and implementation
Contribute to an open-source compiler project
Show steps
Enhance your understanding of compiler internals and contribute to the community by participating in an open-source compiler project.
Show steps
-
Find an open-source compiler project that interests you
-
Identify an area where you can contribute, such as bug fixes or feature enhancements
-
Submit your contributions to the project
-
Collaborate with other contributors to improve the project
Organize and review your notes and materials
Show steps
Stay organized and ensure you're prepared for exams and assessments by keeping your notes and materials up-to-date.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Review your notes after each lecture
- Organize your notes into a logical structure
- Create summaries of key concepts
- Practice explaining concepts to yourself
Read 'Compilers: Principles, Techniques, & Tools'
Show steps
Reinforce the concepts covered in the course by reading this classic textbook on compiler design and implementation.
View
Compilers: Principles, Techniques, and Tools
on Amazon
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read one chapter per week
- Take notes and highlight important concepts
- Solve the exercises at the end of each chapter
Review concepts of object-oriented programming
Show steps
Get up to speed with OOP concepts like encapsulation and polymorphism before diving into compiler design and implementation.
Browse courses on
Object-Oriented Programming
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read an introductory article on OOP
- Go through an online tutorial on classes, objects, and inheritance
- Practice writing simple OOP programs in a language like Java or Python
Six other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all nine activities
Follow a tutorial on compiler construction
Show steps
Deepen your understanding of compiler implementation by following a guided tutorial that covers the different stages of compilation.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Choose a tutorial that aligns with your skill level and interests
- Set aside dedicated time each week to work on the tutorial
- Complete all the exercises and assignments included in the tutorial
- Apply the concepts learned in the tutorial to your own compiler projects
Solve compiler design and implementation exercises
Show steps
Test your understanding of compiler techniques and algorithms by solving practice exercises.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find a collection of compiler design and implementation exercises online
- Set aside regular time for practice
- Attempt to solve the exercises on your own
Help other students in the course
Show steps
Solidify your understanding by explaining concepts to other students and answering their questions.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Join the course discussion forum
- Monitor the forum for questions
- Provide clear and helpful answers to questions
Create a blog post or video on a compiler-related topic
Show steps
Deepen your understanding of compiler concepts by explaining them to others.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Choose a compiler-related topic that you're interested in
- Research the topic thoroughly
- Write a blog post or create a video explaining the topic in a clear and engaging way
- Share your content with others
Build a simple compiler for a toy language
Show steps
Gain hands-on experience in compiler construction by creating a compiler for a toy language.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Choose a toy language to implement
- Design the grammar and semantics of the toy language
- Write the code for the compiler
- Test the compiler on various input programs
- Document your design and implementation
Contribute to an open-source compiler project
Show steps
Enhance your understanding of compiler internals and contribute to the community by participating in an open-source compiler project.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find an open-source compiler project that interests you
- Identify an area where you can contribute, such as bug fixes or feature enhancements
- Submit your contributions to the project
- Collaborate with other contributors to improve the project
Career center
Learners who complete Compilers will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Software Developer
Software Developer
A Software Developer, also known as a Computer Programmer, creates and maintains applications. They design, write, and test programs to improve the efficiency of an organization or to solve a specific problem. A compiler is a computer program used to translate programming code from one computer language to another. This course teaches foundational knowledge about how compilers are designed and implemented. By knowing the principles, languages, and techniques behind compilers, Software Developers will be able to write better systems.
Computer Programmer
Computer Programmer
Computer Programmers write, test, and maintain the code that makes computers work. They design, develop, and implement software applications and systems. This course can help Computer Programmers understand the theory and implementation behind compilers, giving them a deeper understanding of how compilers work and how to write more efficient and secure code.
Software Engineer
Software Engineer
Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software systems. They work with stakeholders to understand the requirements of the system and design a system that meets those requirements. This course can help Software Engineers write more efficient and secure code by understanding how compilers work and how to optimize their code.
Software Architect
Software Architect
Software Architects design and develop the overall architecture of software systems. They work with stakeholders to understand the requirements of the system and design a system that meets those requirements. This course can help Software Architects choose the right types of compilers to use for their systems and better understand the optimizations that are performed on their code.
Software Quality Assurance Analyst
Software Quality Assurance Analyst
Software Quality Assurance Analysts test software to ensure that it meets the requirements and specifications of the stakeholders. They identify and resolve defects in software, and ensure that it is of high quality. This course will help Software Quality Assurance Analysts better understand the compilers used to build the software they test, and help them write more effective tests to ensure quality.
DevOps Engineer
DevOps Engineer
DevOps Engineers work with developers and operations teams to ensure that software is delivered quickly and reliably. They automate the build, test, and deployment process to improve the efficiency and quality of software delivery. This course can help DevOps Engineers understand the underlying technologies used in the build and deployment process, including compilers.
Computer Hardware Engineer
Computer Hardware Engineer
Computer Hardware Engineers research, design, develop, and test computer systems and components. They work with electrical engineers and computer scientists to create new hardware and software products. Having taken this course, Computer Hardware Engineers will be able to better understand the systems they design and test at the machine code level, thereby gaining greater understanding of how their hardware will operate.
Machine Learning Engineer
Machine Learning Engineer
Machine Learning Engineers design, develop, and deploy machine learning models. They use machine learning algorithms to train computers to learn from data and make predictions. This course can help Machine Learning Engineers write more efficient code for training machine learning models by understanding how compilers optimize code.
Computer Systems Analyst
Computer Systems Analyst
Computer Systems Analysts study how computer systems are used in an organization and determine how to make them more efficient and effective. They analyze existing systems and design new ones to meet the changing needs of the organization. The analysis of computer systems often involves understanding the programming code, which is facilitated by knowledge of compilers and their techniques.
Information Security Analyst
Information Security Analyst
Information Security Analysts plan and implement security measures to protect an organization's computer networks and systems. They monitor networks for suspicious activity and investigate security breaches. This course will help Information Security Analysts better understand some of the vulnerabilities that exist in software systems, and how to better prepare to mitigate these vulnerabilities in order to strengthen security measures.
Data Scientist
Data Scientist
Data Scientists use scientific methods, processes, algorithms, and systems to extract knowledge and insights from data in various forms, both structured and unstructured. They analyze data to uncover hidden patterns, correlations, and other insights. This course can help Data Scientists understand some of the different compilation techniques that can be used to prepare and analyze data.
Web Developer
Web Developer
Web Developers create and maintain websites. They design, develop, and test websites to ensure that they are functional and user-friendly. This course can help Web Developers understand how compilers work, which can help them write more efficient and secure code for their websites.
Computer Network Architect
Computer Network Architect
Computer Network Architects design and implement computer networks. They work with stakeholders to understand the requirements of the network and design a network that meets those requirements. This course can help Computer Network Architects understand how to design networks that are efficient and secure by studying the network-related optimizations performed by compilers.
Database Administrator
Database Administrator
Database Administrators are responsible for the installation, maintenance, and security of an organization's databases. They ensure that the data is accurate, secure, and accessible to authorized users. Compilers are often used to check the security and accuracy of the code used to access a database, and this course will help Database Administrators write more secure and efficient code for this purpose.
Computer Scientist
Computer Scientist
Computer Scientists do research on computing technologies and create new algorithms, architectures, and systems. They apply their knowledge of computing principles to solve problems in a wide range of fields. This course can help Computer Scientists build a foundation for further research into the implementation and theory of compilers.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/4y253o/compiler
Reading list
We've selected 13 books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Compilers.
Covers the principles behind modern compiler implementation and provides a modern, in-depth treatment of type systems and their role in the correctness and efficiency of compilation.
A classic textbook on compiler design and implementation, covering all major aspects of compiler construction, from lexical analysis and parsing to code generation and optimization.
Provides a comprehensive overview of compiler engineering, covering the design, implementation, and optimization of compilers for modern programming languages.
Save
A practical guide to using the Lex and Yacc tools for lexical analysis and parsing, which are essential components of compiler construction.
A classic text on compiler construction, providing a rigorous and in-depth treatment of the subject, from the theoretical foundations to practical implementation techniques.
An undergraduate textbook on compiler design, covering the essential topics in a clear and concise manner.
A comprehensive and well-written book on compiler design, providing a detailed overview of the structure and components of a compiler.
Save
A classic textbook on compiler design, providing a comprehensive overview of the subject, from the theoretical foundations to practical implementation techniques.
An undergraduate textbook on compiler design, providing a clear and concise introduction to the subject.
A practical guide to compiler construction, providing a detailed overview of the techniques used in modern compilers.
A comprehensive textbook on compiler optimization techniques, providing a detailed overview of the techniques used to improve the performance of compiled code.
A comprehensive textbook on advanced compiler design and implementation, providing a detailed overview of the techniques used in modern compilers.
Save
A textbook on compiler engineering using C, providing a detailed overview of the techniques used to build compilers in C.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/4y253o/compiler
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Effort
5 to 10 hours per week for 10 weeks
Level
Elementary
Via
edX
Institution
Stanford University
Instructor
Alex Aiken
Language
English
Transcript
English
Good to know
Examines the interplay of theory and practice in computer science, especially how general ideas can lead to practical solutions
Helps learners become better programmers and increase their ability to learn programming languages
Taught by Alex Aiken who are recognized for their work in computer science
Teaches skills, knowledge, and tools that are highly relevant to industry
Teaches skills, knowledge, and tools that are useful for personal growth
Optional course project to write a complete compiler for COOL, the Classroom Object Oriented Language
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