Title: Experimenting an implementation-focused approach to undergraduate compiler course

Authors: Xiaohong Wang; Ren Wan; Hilary Vernon; Matt Thorne; Josh Bargar

Addresses: Mathematics and Computer Science Department, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD 21801, USA ' Mathematics and Computer Science Department, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD 21801, USA ' Mathematics and Computer Science Department, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD 21801, USA ' Mathematics and Computer Science Department, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD 21801, USA ' Mathematics and Computer Science Department, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD 21801, USA

Abstract: Compiler construction is one of the most challenging courses to teach in undergraduate computer science curriculum. In a traditional compiler course, many theoretical topics are covered and a compiler project is assigned. Our previous experience shows that this approach not only is challenging but also can be ineffective sometimes. To cover the extensive amount of material within a semester is a struggle. To expect students to produce a working compiler is also impractical since most undergraduates have little experience in developing large software. Our preliminary experiment using an implementation-focused approach produces many positive outcomes. In this approach, the lectures focused on the case study of the design and implementation of a Pascal compiler using a language independent framework. For the project, students successfully used the given language independent framework to design and develop a working compiler for a modified subset C language.

Keywords: undergraduate compiler courses; implementation-focused approach; compiler construction; computer science; computing education; higher education; Pascal compiler; case study; language independent framework.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2014.063751

International Journal of Teaching and Case Studies, 2014 Vol.5 No.1, pp.69 - 81

Received: 21 Jan 2014
Accepted: 24 Jan 2014

Published online: 29 Jul 2014 *

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