Abstract
It may seem misleading to talk so much about language definition methods when we wish to examine the state of the art in compiler-compilers, but the one is directly dependent on the other. Compiler implementers have always complained that the language definers ignore their problems, but both sides should listen more carefully to what the other has to say.
The present situation as regards the mechanical production of compilers is that the classical methods, based on context-free syntax drivers, are well established and well understood, even though certain industrial compiler producers have yet to see the light. Methods which take their formalisation further than context-free grammars are promising subjects of research (or in some cases development) and some time will elapse before they are applicable in the industrial arena. It seems likely that the introduction of new implementation techniques will have a large influence not only on language definition tools, but also on the contents of languages.
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© 1976 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Griffiths, M. (1976). Introduction to compiler compilers. In: Brauer, F.L., et al. Compiler Construction. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 21. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3540069585_59
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3540069585_59
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