Name: Amer Diwan

Email: diwan@cs.stanford.edu

Email: humper@cs.stanford.edu

1. Description of class

While CS143 focuses on the overall compilation process, CS243 focuses on how to produce good code for the programs being compiled ("optimizations"). The course is divided into three (unevenly sized) segments. The first part will cover fundamental analyses and representations that are needed by the optimizations. The second part will cover a number of optimizations found in most modern compilers, such as register allocation and instruction scheduling. The third part covers promising new optimizations, in particular, those for object-oriented languages. These optimizations are not yet in commercial compilers.

2. Text

The text for the course is Steven Muchnick’s "Advanced Compiler Design and Implementation". The textbook web page (http://www.mkp.com/books_catalog/1-55860-320-4.asp) has an "errata" link that contains a list of known mistakes in the book. I strongly recommend that you incorporate those fixes into your text before you start reading. Another useful (but optional) text is Aho, Sethi, Ullman’s "Compilers: Principles, Techniques, and Tools".

3. Class requirements

The lectures will focus on the most important intuitions and techniques rather than all the low-level details of compiler optimizations. The text, however, does go into good detail. You are responsible for reading and understanding the material in the assigned readings. The homework assignments and exams will also include all the material covered in the assigned readings. The readings will be extensive; however, unlike most other compiler courses, there won’t be any big programming projects.

In addition to readings for each class, there will be weekly assignments, two mid-term exams, a final exam, and a final project.

4. Grade breakdown

40% homework, 40% exams, and 20% final project

5. Syllabus