FIT3232 · Compiler engineering

Overview

This unit introduces the design and implementation of compilers and language-processing systems as a unifying application of programming languages, formal languages, algorithms, and systems knowledge. It covers the main stages of translation, including lexical analysis, parsing, semantic analysis, intermediate representations, optimisation, runtime organisation, and code generation, while showing how language design choices influence translation and execution. You will learn how high-level programs are represented, analysed, transformed, and executed, and how to reason about the trade-offs between correctness, efficiency, portability, and maintainability in language implementation. Through practical programming language and compiler construction tasks, the unit strengthens your understanding of the inner-workings and interaction of computer programs, operating systems and computer hardware, strengthening the programming-languages backbone of the degree.

Offerings

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Assessment

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Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. Select and apply appropriate digital methods, applications and AI-enabled tools to investigate, instrument and reason about language-processing systems, attributing AI contributions transparently in your work;
2. Design, code, test and document substantial compiler components - lexers, parsers, semantic analysers, optimisers and code generators, applying agreed standards and secure programming practices;
3. Design and document multi-stage compiler architectures, justifying trade-offs between correctness, efficiency, portability and maintainability in language implementation;
4. Construct and document software-design artefacts that explain how a language implementation realises its semantics across translation stages and runtime support.

Workload

No workload detail published.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.