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Automata Theory & Compiler Design Course

The document outlines the course structure for 'Automata Theory and Compiler Design', focusing on finite automata, formal languages, and compiler construction. It includes objectives, modules covering topics like grammars, parsing techniques, and optimization, along with learning outcomes for each module. Key textbooks and reference materials are also listed to support the course content.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
15 views2 pages

Automata Theory & Compiler Design Course

The document outlines the course structure for 'Automata Theory and Compiler Design', focusing on finite automata, formal languages, and compiler construction. It includes objectives, modules covering topics like grammars, parsing techniques, and optimization, along with learning outcomes for each module. Key textbooks and reference materials are also listed to support the course content.
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

19EAI332: Automata Theory and Compiler Design

L T P C
3 1 0 4
Finite Automata comprises theoretical computer science to study abstract machines for
solving computation problems. Compilers play a significant role in fulfilling users’ computing
requirements, specified in programs in a high-level language, which translate into machine-
understandable form. The process involved in such a transformation of a program is quite
complex. This course intends to help the students learn the fundamentals of the theory of
computation that can recognize formal languages typically illustrated by the Chomsky
hierarchy and how this knowledge enables one to design a compiler. Automata Theory
provides the basis for developing a compiler.
Course objectives:
1. Impart the mathematical concepts of theoretical computer science from the
perspective offormal languages in solving computational machines.
2. Familiarize various formal languages, grammar, and their relationships.
3. Demonstrate various finite state machines and recognize formal languages.
4. Explore the basic techniques that underlie the principles, algorithms, and data structures in
Compiler Construction.
5. Gain experience in using automated tools that helps in transforming various phases of
the compiler.

Module I: Finite Automata and Regular Languages Number of hours(LTP) 9 3 0


Central concepts of strings, languages and automata theory, Regular expressions and
languages, Deterministic Finite Automata (DFA) and equivalence with Regular expression,
Non- Deterministic Finite Automata, and equivalence with DFA, Minimization of Finite
Automata by partitioning, Chomsky hierarchy of grammars
Learning Outcomes:
After completion of this unit, the student will be able to:
1. illustrate the central concepts of automata theory (L2)
2. construct Deterministic Finite Automata equivalent to Non-Deterministic Finite Automata (L3)
3. construct a Non-Deterministic Finite Automaton equivalent to a regular expression (L3)
4. build the equivalent minimized Deterministic Finite Automata (L3)
Module II: Grammars Number of hours(LTP) 9 3 0
Regular grammars equivalent with Finite Automata, Context-free grammars, and languages;
Parse trees; Applications; Ambiguity in grammars and Languages, Simplification of Context-
Free Grammars, Closure Properties of Context-Free Languages, Membership Algorithm
(CYK).Push down automata,equivalence of push down automata and context free grammar
Learning Outcomes:
After completion of this unit, the student will be able to:
1. classify the Chomsky hierarchy of grammars for formal languages (L2)
2. construct an unambiguous grammar from ambiguous grammar(L3)
3. decide whether a string belongs to a given context free language or not using
membership algorithm(L5)
Module III: Introduction to Compiler Design Number of hours(LTP) 9 3 0
The Structure of Compiler, The Science of Building a Compiler in Bootstrapping and Cross
compiler, The role of the Lexical analyzer, Input Buffering, Specification of Tokens, Recognition of
Tokens, The Lexical Analyzer Generator (LEX/FLEX).

150
Learning Outcomes:
After completion of this unit, the student will be able to:
1. summarizing various phases involved in the design of compiler construction(L2)
2. comparing methods involved in constructing the compiler(L2)
3. highlighting how regular expressions help to design the Lexical Analysis phase(L1)
4. exploring how LEX Tool simplifies the design of the Lexical Analysis phase(L2)
Module IV: Parsing Techniques Number of hours(LTP) 9 3 0

Top-Down parsing: Recursive Descent Parsing, Non-recursive Predictive Parsing, Bottom-Up


parsing - Shift Reduce Parsing, Simple LR Parser, More Powerful LR Parsers, Parser Generator
(YACC).
Learning Outcomes:
After completion of this unit, the student will be able to:
1. design the possible ways of constructing parsers (L3)
2. identifying the issues involved in creating an efficient Top-Down (LL) parser(L1)
3. implementing LR Parsers (L3)
4. illustrating the design of parser through YACC tool (L4)
Module V: Other Phases of Compiler Design Number of hours(LTP) 9 3 0
Intermediate Code Generation: Three Address codes, Code Optimization: The Principal
Sources of Optimization, Basic blocks, and Flow Graphs, Optimization of Basic Blocks, Code
Generation: Issues in designing a code Generator, The Target Language, A Simple Code
Generator, Peephole Optimization.
Learning Outcomes:
After completion of this unit, the student will be able to:
1. illustrating various techniques to store three address statements(L3)
2. identifying issues involved in the machine-independent code optimization(L1)
3. illustrating with a suitable example on local and loop optimization(L4)
4. estimating the processes involved in obtaining the final code (L2)
Text Books(s)
1. John E. Hopcroft, Rajeev Motwani and Jeffrey D. Ullman, Introduction to Automata
Theory,Languages and Computation, 3/e, Pearson, 2008.
2. Alfred.V. Aho, Monica S. Lam, Ravi Sethi, Jeffrey. D. Ullman, Compilers Principles,
Techniques and Tools, 2/e, Pearson Education, 2008.
Reference Book(s)
1. Alfred.V. Aho, [Link], Principles of compiler design, Narosa Publications, 2002
2. Peter Linz, An Introduction to Formal Language and Automata, NarosaPub. House, Reprint
2000.
3. Michael Sipser, Introduction to Theory of Computation, 3/e, Wadsworth Publishing Co Inc,
2012.
Course Outcomes:
1. illustrate the concepts in the design of Finite State Machines to recognize Regular
Languages(L2)
2. analyze the relation between grammar and language, and design Context-Free Grammars
for formal languages (L4)
3. define and analyze various phases involved in developing a compiler(L1)
4. compare between bottom-up and top-down parsing techniques(L2)
5. identify different machine-independent optimization generating target code techniques(L4)

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Common questions

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Top-down parsing, such as Recursive Descent Parsing, builds the parse tree from the top to the bottom, starting from the root node. Its advantages include simplicity and ease of implementation. However, it is limited by its inability to handle left recursion and requires backtracking without lookahead. Bottom-up parsing, such as Shift-Reduce Parsers, constructs parse trees from the leaves up to the root. It is more powerful in handling left recursion but can be more complex to implement and requires handling shift/reduce conflicts. Parser generators like YACC are used to automate bottom-up parsing .

Issues encountered in machine-independent code optimization include managing control flow and data dependencies, handling redundant computations, and optimizing loops and conditional branches. These issues can impact the final code generation by either improving efficiency and runtime through optimized execution sequences or, if not properly handled, can lead to bloated or inefficient target code that performs poorly on real machines .

Strategies for constructing an unambiguous grammar from an ambiguous one include transforming the grammar to remove left recursion, associativity, and precedence issues. Techniques like left-factoring and rewriting rules to eliminate ambiguity are essential. This transformation is significant in compiler design because unambiguous grammars ensure consistent and correct parse trees, which are crucial for accurate semantic analysis and code generation .

Regular expressions play a fundamental role in the lexical analysis phase of compiler design by defining the patterns of tokens that need to be recognized in source code. Tools like LEX streamline this process by automatically generating source code for lexical analyzers from regular expression specifications, thereby simplifying and speeding up the design of the lexical analysis phase .

The Chomsky hierarchy classifies formal languages into four types: regular, context-free, context-sensitive, and recursively enumerable. Each type corresponds to a specific class of automata, such as finite automata, pushdown automata, linear bounded automata, and Turing machines, respectively. This hierarchy helps in understanding the computational power of different formal languages and their corresponding automata, which is crucial for designing efficient parsers and understanding the capabilities of compilers in recognizing and processing various language constructs .

A Parser Generator like YACC facilitates the parser construction process by automating the generation of parser code from a formal description of a grammar. It handles the construction of the parsing table and the implementation of shift-reduce operations, thereby reducing manual coding errors and expediting the development of efficient parsers, which forms the core of syntax analysis in compilers .

Minimization of finite automata by partitioning involves reducing the number of states in an automaton by merging equivalent states. This concept contributes to optimizing compilers by resulting in more efficient lexical analyzers that require less memory and computation, thereby improving the overall performance and speed of the compilation process .

Finite automata lay the groundwork for developing compilers by providing a structured way to analyze and process formal languages, which are essential in compiler construction. Key concepts include deterministic and non-deterministic finite automata (DFA and NFA) and their equivalence, regular expressions, and their minimization. These concepts aid in designing lexical analyzers which recognize patterns in code, an initial phase of compiling high-level language constructs into machine-understandable forms .

Simplification of context-free grammars involves removing useless productions, eliminating unit productions, and reducing the grammar to a simpler form while maintaining its language-generating power. This process improves computational resources in parsing by reducing the complexity and size of the parse table, thereby decreasing memory usage and increasing the parsing speed, which is crucial for the efficiency of the compiler's syntax analysis phase .

Principal sources of optimization in compiler design include optimizing control flow, data flow, and exploiting hardware features. Techniques such as loop transformations, inlining functions, and removing dead code contribute to efficient code execution by minimizing execution times and resource usage. They ensure that the generated machine code runs efficiently on targeted hardware, leading to improved performance and reduced operational costs .

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