Building an Optimizing Compiler

Compiler courses have been an academic mainstay in both undergraduate and graduate computer science departments. These courses emphasize either the implementation of languages or parallel processing. Little analysis is presented for generating excellent code for a language on a single processor.


Building an Optimizing Compiler addresses this gap. It provides a high level design for a thorough optimizer, code generator, scheduler and register allocator for a generic modern RISC processor. In the process it addresses the small issues that have a long impact on the implementation.

The book approaches this subject from a practical viewpoint. Theory is introduced where intuitive arguments are insufficient, however the theory is described in practical terms. A single running example is used throughout the book to illustrate the compilation process.