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Free module

Compilers

Learn how compilers work by building one: lexing, parsing, type checks, interpreting and code generation, in a real VM.

6 lessons310 min lessonCore computer science

The lessons

Each lesson is free to read in full. Create a free account to run its commands in a live lab and to sit its quizzes and tasks.

  1. 1 · Virtual machine lab

    From source code to a running program (gcc)

    I can name the stages a compiler takes a program through.

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  2. 2 · Virtual machine lab

    Splitting source text into tokens (lexer)

    I can turn source text into tokens.

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  3. 3 · Virtual machine lab

    Building a syntax tree from tokens (parser)

    I can build a syntax tree from tokens.

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  4. 4 · Virtual machine lab

    Finding mistakes a parser cannot see (semantic analysis)

    I can find the mistakes a parser cannot.

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  5. 5 · Virtual machine lab

    Running a syntax tree directly (interpreter)

    I can run a syntax tree directly.

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  6. 6 · Virtual machine lab

    Turning a tree into stack code (code generation)

    I can turn a syntax tree into instructions for a stack machine.

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Worked in a real lab

Every lesson of this module is worked in a lab started for you alone. The labs it uses:

Teaching a class? Set this module for your students with a teacher guide, marked assignments and a lab for every student.