Teaching compilers and programming languages together...

aronov@ziggy1.poly.edu (Boris Aronov) writes:


> I almost exploded when I found out that in our undergraduate CS program
> Programming Langages (PL) course does not seem to be a prerequisite for
> Compilers (Comp). I have tried changing it and got an argument along the
> lines of 'In my days, **I** have taken Comp before PL and nothing bad
> happened to me.'


First, take it easy... You don't need a complete programming languages
course before taking a compiler course.


The major prerequisite for a compiler course is the ability to program
proficiently in one or more standard languages. That is, the student
must understand most common control and data constructs found in
C, Pascal, PL/1, etc.


The goal of the compiler should contain as you described and keep
consistent with today's mainstream languages.


> basic Comp stuff:scanning/parsing/ideas of code generation/
> correspondence between language features and
> what compiler has to do/implem. of some features




A compiler course can do a better job explaining this if you have
the time...


> basic PL concepts:param passing/scoping/contral structures


With parameter passing, it is easier to tell the students the implementation
differences among call by value, reference, and copy-in and copy-out.


Also, lexical scoping can be explained much easier by walking the
parse tree.


Thank you.




Steve Simmons


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