Semantic Analysis of Programming Languages

COSC 6002 3.0 Semantic Analysis of Programming Languages

Winter 2004

Brief overview

Semantic analysis is one of the phases of a compiler. In this phase we check for semantic properties. For example, we would like to ensure that we do not add integers to strings.

Before we focus on semantic analysis, we first consider syntactic analysis (the former builds on the latter). In particular, we study the following topics.

Lexical Analysis
including tools to generate lexers in Java, like JFlex
Parsing
including tools to generate parsers in Java, like CUP and SableCC
Syntax Trees
including tools to generate classes that represent syntax trees in Java, like Zephyr

Next, we concentrate on semantic analysis. In particular, we address the following facets.

Traversing Syntax Trees
using dedicated methods, the syntax separate from interpretation approach, visitors, tree walkers, and reflection-based tree walkers
Specification of Semantic Analyses
including attribute grammars
Implementation of Semantic Analyses
including tools to generate Java code for semantic analysis, like SmartTools

General information

Time: Friday, 15:30-16:30
Place: Computer Science and Engineering Building 3033
Instructor: Franck van Breugel
Office hours: Friday, 14:00-15:00 or by appointment
Office: Computer Science and Engineering Building 3046
Email: franck@cs.yorku.ca

Reference material

Textbooks

Andrew W. Appel and Jens Palsberg. Modern Compiler Implementation in Java. Cambridge University Press. 2003.

David A. Watt and Deryck F. Brown. Programming Language Processors in Java. Pearson. 2000.

Both books are on reserve in the Steacie Science and Engineering Library.

Journals

ACM Transactions on Programming Languages and Systems (TOPLAS)
ACM SIGPLAN Notices

Conferences

ACM SIGPLAN Conference on Programming Language Design and Implementation (PLDI)
International Conference on Compiler Construction (CC)
International Conference on Compilers, Architecture, and Synthesis for Embedded Systems (CASES)
ACM SIGPLAN Conference on Object-Oriented Programming, Systems, Languages, and Applications (OOPSLA)
Conference on Technology of Object-Oriented Languages and Systems (TOOLS)
ACM SIGPLAN - SIGACT Symposium on Principles of Programming Languages (POPL)

Workshops

ACM SIGPLAN Workshop on Languages, Compilers, and Tools for Embedded Systems (LCTES)
ACM SIGPLAN Workshop on Partial Evaluation and Semantics-Based Program Manipulation (PEPM)
International Workshop on Languages and Compilers for Parallel Computing (LCPC)
ACM SIGPLAN-SIGSOFT Workshop on Program Analysis for Software Tools and Engineering (PASTE)
Workshop on Language Descriptions, Tools and Applications (LDTA)
International Workshop on Attribute Grammars and their Applications (WAGA)