Building a Compiler from Scratch
Welcome to this comprehensive guide on building a compiler from scratch. In this series, we'll walk through each step of the compiler design process, from tokenizing source code to generating executable machine code.
What is a Compiler?
A compiler is a program that translates source code written in a high-level programming language into machine code, assembly language, or another target language. The compilation process involves several phases, each handling a specific aspect of the translation.
Compilation Process Overview
Learning Path
Follow these guides in sequence to understand how to build a complete compiler:
- Introduction to Compilers - Understand compiler architecture and components
- Lexical Analysis - Learn how to build a lexer/tokenizer
- Syntax Analysis - Create parsers using recursive descent techniques
- Abstract Syntax Trees - Work with ASTs to represent program structure
- Code Generation - Transform ASTs into target code
Each section includes practical examples in JavaScript to help you implement your own compiler components.
Let's begin our journey into the fascinating world of compiler design!