Compilers

Welcome!

Why compilers?

• Know your tools
• Insight into programming and computer workings
• Great software engineering practice
• Occasional real-world use
• Fun!

Course philosophy

• Learning by doing
• Less theory, more practice
• End-to-end understanding

Project

• Course project: make a compiler
• The project fully determines your grade
• The course website guides you in completing the project
• Scoring by automated end-to-end tests
• Complete base language (chapters 2-7) ⇒ up to grade 4
• Add features break & continue and functions ⇒ grade 5

AI policy

• Don't use AI for coding or debugging.
• OK to use for theory questions, but don't take code examples from it.
• Why?
  • Learning by doing is very powerful.
  • Having AI do it for you teaches nothing.
  • Without learning strong fundamentals,
    • you won't be able to guide AI wisely,
    • you won't be able to solve problems that AI can't handle.
• I don't know how fast things will change or what the future will be like,
  but it's probably good for humans to still understand how things work.

Resources

• Course website
• Lecture videos from 2024
• Workshops: Tuesdays 18-20 and Fridays 12-14 in room D123
  • Optional, pleasant environment to work on your project,
    ask questions, and chat about compilers and software engineering.
• Discord
  • /join compilers on https://study.cs.helsinki.fi/discord
• Choose whatever works for you!

Teacher

• Enjoying coding for > 20 years
• Worked as a webdev, Google SRE, gamedev, now at Oura
• Compilers at work: an optimizer, a linter, a config language
• Compilers as a hobby: doodling, prototyping, teaching

Getting started

• Visit the course page
• Join Discord
• Project deadline is March 16. Start early!

Any questions?