Rick Cattell

Formalization and Automatic Derivation of Code Generators Degree Type: Ph.D. in Computer Science
Advisor(s): William Wulf
Graduated: May 1978

Abstract:

This work is concerned with automatic derivation of code generators, which translate a parse-tree-like representation of programs into sequences of instructions for a computer defined by a machine description. In pursuing this goal, the following are presented 1) a model of machines and a notation for their description 2) a model of code generation, and its use in optimizing compilers and 3) an axiom system of tree equivalences, and an algorithm for derivation of translators based on tree transformations this is the main work of the thesis. The algorithms and representations are implemented to demonstrate their practicality as a means for generation of code generators.

Thesis Committee:
William Wulf (Chair)

Joseph Traub, Head, Computer Science Department