Compiler Design (International Computer Science Series) [Hardcover]

Renhard Wilhelm (Author), Dieter Maurer (Author)

Book Description

Series: International Computer Science Series | Publication Date: March 1, 1995

This book is a comprehensive, up to date account of the concepts and techniques involved in compiler construction. A unique feature is the coverage given to compilation techniques for object-oriented, functional and logic languages in addition to traditional imperative languages. Providing enough material for a two-semester course, it covers the theoretical background in depth, while remaining focused on techniques which are of practical use to software developers.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

This book provides a comprehensive, modern approach to the design and construction of compilers--one of the most vital components of a computer's system software. Unique in its coverage of the four major language paradigms, it covers the required theory in depth, while remaining focused on techniques that are of practical benefit to software developers.

Highlights of the book include:

• Chapters on the compilation of procedural, object-oriented, functional and logic programming languages using the same intuitive but precise description method
• In-depth coverage of compiler generation methods for lexical, syntax, and semantic analysis, as well as for code generation
• State of the art techniques of code generation for modern intra-processor parallelism

Software engineers and students alike will benefit from its careful balance between theoretical concepts and practical techniques for impelementing modern language paradigms.

0201422905B04062001

About the Author

About Reinhard Wilhelm

Reinhard Wilhelm is Professor of Computer Science at the University of the Saarland in Germany. Professor Wilhelm acts as Scientific Director of the International Conference and Research Centre for Computer Science at Schloss Dagstuhl.

Dieter Maurer received his doctorate at the University of the Saarland. He is now senior software developer at HighTec EDV Systeme GmbH, Saarbrucken, and repsonsible for the evolution of HighTec's real-time operating system, C/C++ compilers, and associated tools.

0201422905AB04062001

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 606 pages
• Publisher: Longman Group United Kingdom; 1st edition (March 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201422905
• ISBN-13: 978-0201422900
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.8 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,186,826 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #22 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > Languages & Tools > Compiler Design
  • #89 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > Languages & Tools > Compilers

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars authoritative, informative, and dull., November 28, 1999

By 

Ray Dillinger (San Francisco Bay Area) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Compiler Design (International Computer Science Series) (Hardcover)

This is a useful and highly informative text. It covers technique and structures for the efficient compilation of OO, functional, and Logic Programming Languages -- languages not well covered by the Dragon Book. The code examples are sparse, and in pseudocode. The authors present a lot of theory as mathematical formalisms -- one of the most precise and complete ways to do it of course, but reading it is uphill work. They also cover technique and give reasonable discussion of the complexity of various approaches. The coverage of detail is absolutely superb.

However, to my eye and mind, the book is dreadfully dull. I find most compiler texts fun and engaging, inviting me to explore new ideas and make judgements about approaches. By contrast, this text is like being led by the hand (or by the nose) through every decision, idea, and comparison by someone who knows everything there is to know about it and doesn't care what you think or whether you get it. The technique is presented as an implementation of the theory, but real-world examples of situations requiring the application of that theory are scarce. Finally, the entire thing is written without a trace of wit or humor. I can't fault this book technically -- but I'm not confident of its ability to hold a student's attention.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If you thought the Dragon Book was dense..., October 31, 2004

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Compiler Design (International Computer Science Series) (Hardcover)

A warning to compiler practitioners: This book is heavily based on mathematics. Ideas are expressed more often as algebra and theorems than as English prose. Therefore it's more of a resource for academic work than for actually implementing a compiler. If you are looking for such a formal treatment, perhaps as the basis of a thesis, I highly recommend this book. It's similar to the Dragon Book, but is more up to date and covers topics specific to imperative, functional, logic, and OO languages. But if you're simply interested in getting a working understanding of how to implement a compiler, I suggest one of the other highly rated works on Amazon. I think the other reviewer (only 2 reviews says something too) summarized it best: authoritative, informative, and dull.