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Frances: A Tool For Understanding Code Generation

Tyler Sondag, Kian L. Pokorny, and Hridesh Rajan

Abstract

Compiler and programming language implementation courses are integral parts of many computer science curricula. However, the range of topics necessary to teach in such a course are difficult for students to understand and time consuming to cover. In particular, code generation is a confusing topic for students unfamiliar with low level target languages. We present Frances, a tool for helping students understand code generation and low level languages. The key idea is to graphically illustrate the relationships between high level language constructs and low level (assembly) language code. By illustrating these relationships, we take advantage of the students existing understanding of some high level language. We have used Frances in a compiler design course and received highly positive feedback. Students conveyed to us that Frances significantly helped them to understand the concepts necessary to implement code generation in a compiler project.

Bibliographic Information

@inproceedings{Sondag-Pokorny-Rajan-10,
author = {Tyler Sondag and Kian L. Pokorny and Hridesh Rajan},
title = {Frances: A Tool For Understanding Code Generation},
booktitle = {SIGCSE '10: The 41st ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education},
location = {Milwaukee, WI},
month = {March},
year = {2010},
}

Most recent paper version: PDF

Presentation: PDF

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Previous version appeared as Technical Report 09-21, Computer Science, Iowa State University, August 24, 2009. [PDF]

Link to the tool: Frances