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Programming Language Design and Frontend Foundations

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Programming Language Design and Frontend Foundations

This course is part of Build Your Own Programming Language Specialization

Instructor: ExpertEdge - Course Instructors

Included with Learn more

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

6 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

6 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Design the syntax and semantics for a new programming language based on specific requirements.
Develop scanners and parsers to process and analyze source code effectively.
Implement practical code generation techniques, including targeting bytecode, native code, and transpiling to other languages.

Skills you'll gain

Tools you'll learn

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

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Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Build Your Own Programming Language Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 5 modules in this course

Discover the principles of programming language design and learn how to build the foundational components of a compiler, including scanning, parsing, and syntax tree construction. This course guides you through the essential steps to define, analyze, and process programming languages.

This course introduces the motivations for creating new programming languages and explores the process of designing language features and control flow. Learners will gain practical experience in building the frontend of a compiler, including lexical analysis, parsing, and syntax tree construction. By the end of the course, you will understand how to specify language syntax, implement scanners and parsers, and represent program structure using syntax trees. Through clear explanations, practical examples, and self-assessment quizzes, this course provides a step-by-step guide to designing a programming language and implementing its frontend components. Learners will build a strong foundation for further exploration of compiler construction and language implementation. This course is part one of a three-course Specialization designed to build a complete and cohesive understanding of the subject. While it offers valuable skills on its own, you'll gain the most benefit by progressing through all three courses as a structured learning journey. This course is based on Build Your Own Programming Language, by Clinton L. Jeffery.

This module explores the motivations and practical considerations for creating a new programming language. Learners will gain an understanding of when and why building a language is necessary, how to define requirements, and the differences between languages and libraries.

What's included

1 video4 readings1 assignment

This module delves into the foundational aspects of programming language design, covering lexical and syntax rules, control flow, and program structure. Learners will gain an understanding of how to define and structure a language for consistency and usability. The module also explores practical considerations in creating a language specification.

What's included

1 video4 readings1 assignment

This module explores the process of scanning source code by teaching learners how to identify lexemes and tokens using regular expressions. It covers the practical implementation of scanners using UFlex and JFlex, and highlights the limitations of regular expressions in language processing tasks.

What's included

1 video5 readings1 assignment

This module explores the fundamentals of parsing, including the design of context-free grammars, the use of parser generators like iyacc and BYACC/J, and strategies for improving syntax error handling. Learners will gain practical skills in building and refining parsers to analyze programming language structures effectively.

What's included

1 video10 readings1 assignment

1 videoTotal 1 minute

Overview1 minute

10 readingsTotal 57 minutes

Introduction4 minutes
Syntax Analysis4 minutes
Writing Context-Free Grammar Rules4 minutes
Writing Rules for Programming Constructs3 minutes
Using iyacc and BYACC/J6 minutes
Understanding yacc Parsers6 minutes
Syntax Error Recovery9 minutes
Writing a Parser for Jzero9 minutes
Unicon Jzero Code6 minutes
Improving Syntax Error Messages6 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 16 minutes

Key Concepts of Parsing and Context-Free Grammars16 minutes

This module provides an in-depth exploration of syntax trees, focusing on their construction, visualization, and debugging techniques. Learners will gain practical skills in using tools like GNU Make and Dot to represent and manipulate parsed programs. The module also covers the role of syntax trees in compiler design and how they support semantic analysis and code generation.

What's included

1 video8 readings2 assignments

1 videoTotal 1 minute

Overview1 minute

8 readingsTotal 53 minutes

Introduction8 minutes
Learning About Trees6 minutes
Creating Leaves From Terminal Symbols5 minutes
Wrapping Leaves for the Parser's Value Stack3 minutes
Accessing Tree Nodes on the Value Stack6 minutes
Forming Syntax Trees for the Jzero Language12 minutes
Debugging and Testing Your Syntax Tree4 minutes
Printing Your Tree in a Text Format9 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 46 minutes

Fundamentals of Syntax Trees in Semantic Analysis16 minutes
Programming Language Design and Frontend Foundations Final Assessment30 minutes

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Instructor

ExpertEdge - Course Instructors

16 Courses1,109 learners

Offered by

Packt

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Frequently asked questions

Yes, you can preview the first video and view the syllabus before you enroll. You must purchase the course to access content not included in the preview.

If you decide to enroll in the course before the session start date, you will have access to all of the lecture videos and readings for the course. You’ll be able to submit assignments once the session starts.

Once you enroll and your session begins, you will have access to all videos and other resources, including reading items and the course discussion forum. You’ll be able to view and submit practice assessments, and complete required graded assignments to earn a grade and a Course Certificate.