←back to thread

How I wrote a self-hosting C compiler in 40 days

(www.sigbus.info)
429 points rui314 | 5 comments | 14 Dec 15 14:07 UTC | HN request time: 1.247s | source
Show context
peterkelly ◴[14 Dec 15 16:45 UTC] No.10732090[source]▶
For anyone interested in compiler writing and looking for a good resource to start, probably one of the best is the "Dragon Book":

http://www.amazon.com/Compilers-Principles-Techniques-Tools-...

I highly recommend it, but it's heavy stuff. There are probably simpler guides out there that just cover the basics.

replies(6): >>10732136 #>>10732162 #>>10732256 #>>10732890 #>>10733017 #>>10742248 #
sklogic ◴[14 Dec 15 16:55 UTC] No.10732162[source]▶
Please stop recommending the Dragon Book already. It is not just heavy, it is mostly outdated and irrelevant.
replies(7): >>10732214 #>>10732311 #>>10732417 #>>10732559 #>>10732828 #>>10733072 #>>10733258 #
1. fahadkhan ◴[14 Dec 15 17:03 UTC] No.10732214[source]▶
Please could you recommend an alternative?
replies(3): >>10732239 #>>10732923 #>>10734295 #
2. landmark2 ◴[14 Dec 15 17:05 UTC] No.10732239[source]▶
Modern Compiler Implementation in C
replies(1): >>10732740 #
3. fao_ ◴[14 Dec 15 18:22 UTC] No.10732740[source]▶
By A. Appel? I heard that the ML version is better since much of the code apparently isn't very idiomatic (It was supposedly translated directly from the ML book). I would probably recommend both that and The Dragon Book, as they cover roughly the same material but in a slightly different manner.
4. Ace17 ◴[14 Dec 15 18:46 UTC] No.10732923[source]▶
Dick Grune - Modern Compiler Design
5. xigency ◴[14 Dec 15 22:04 UTC] No.10734295[source]▶
Engineering a Compiler 2nd edition, by Keith D. Cooper and Linda Torczon

The dragon books are better used as references to those who are already familiar with all of the high-level concepts in compiler writing.