Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!husc6!necntc!ames!ucbcad!ucbvax!decvax!ima!johnl From: ma_jpb@ux63.bath.ac.uk (Bennett) Newsgroups: comp.compilers Subject: Re: Request comments on text. Message-ID: <1420@bath63.ux63.bath.ac.uk> Date: Mon, 13-Jul-87 05:53:06 EDT Article-I.D.: bath63.1420 Posted: Mon Jul 13 05:53:06 1987 Date-Received: Wed, 15-Jul-87 00:56:57 EDT References: <252@hubcap.UUCP> Sender: johnl@ima.ISC.COM Reply-To: ma_jpb@ux63.bath.ac.uk (Bennett) Organization: University of Bath, England Lines: 34 Approved: compilers@ima.UUCP In teaching the final year compiler course here, I recommend Aho, Sethi and Ullman as the main text. I have no complaints about the content or style, and have had no complaints from students either. The only faults I have been able to find have been the odd typesetting error making an explanation unclear. I should point out that its predecessor (Aho and Ullman) is not as good, being very weak on code generation. At the same time I recommend Tremblay and Sorensen as an alternative. This book seems to have one or two advantages: a) In the UK it is cheaper b) It has an early chapter on programming language design, which I think is useful background for compiler writers. c) It covers compiler-compilers other than YACC. d) It is slightly more recent The handling of grammars is perhaps a little more formal than Aho et. al. The only argument against is that it is not as well established as Aho et. al., and may not be as widely available. My personal inclination is to let students select whichever book they prefer. It shouldn't affect them, since my lectures aren't based on any one book. J.P. Bennett Tel: +44 225 826891 School of Mathematical Sciences Telex: 449097 UOBATH G University of Bath Fax: +44 225 62508 (Group 3) Bath BA2 7AY, England Arpa: jpb@maths.bath.ac.uk -- Send compilers articles to ima!compilers or, in a pinch, to Levine@YALE.ARPA Plausible paths are { ihnp4 | decvax | cbosgd | harvard | yale | cca}!ima Please send responses to the originator of the message -- I cannot forward mail accidentally sent back to compilers. Meta-mail to ima!compilers-request