Loading page…
The core compiler construction pipeline — from source to executable. Master lexical analysis, parsing, semantic analysis, code generation, and optimizations.
Start this track
Token Struct Definition
build a compiler from scratch tutorial
Compilers is the core pipeline from source text to something a machine can run. This track is for engineers who want to implement the stages themselves, not only diagram them on a whiteboard.
You build lexical analysis first: tokens, error recovery, and the automata behind keyword and identifier recognition. Syntax analysis follows with recursive descent and Pratt-style parsing, then semantic analysis, type checking, and symbol tables. Intermediate representation work covers three-address code, SSA thinking, and control-flow graphs. Code generation maps IR to assembly-shaped output, including stack frames and register allocation basics. Optimizations, linkers and loaders, JIT compilation, and garbage collection close the loop so you see how production language runtimes stay fast and correct.
Tasks are graded by tests, so a broken lexer or a bad relocation is visible immediately. Primary keyword intent here is practical: people searching for "build a compiler from scratch" want code, not only slides. Work through Language Foundations first if C and assembly still feel abstract. When you finish, you should be able to point at any stage of a toolchain and implement a minimal version of it.
Learn to break source code into tokens - the fundamental building blocks of compilation. Master tokenization, pattern matching, and error recovery.
Build parsers that understand program structure. Implement recursive descent parsing and construct Abstract Syntax Trees.
Master semantic analysis: type checking, symbol tables, and error reporting. Learn how compilers verify program meaning beyond syntactic correctness.
Learn about Intermediate Representation (IR) - the bridge between source code and machine code. Master three-address code, SSA form, control flow graphs, and data flow analysis.
Transform intermediate representation into executable machine code. Master three-address code generation, x86 assembly output, control flow, and function calling conventions.
Transform code for better performance while preserving semantics. Master constant folding, dead code elimination, register allocation, peephole optimizations, and basic block analysis.
Understand how object files are linked and executables are loaded. Master object file formats, symbol tables, relocation, static and dynamic linking, loaders, memory layout, and shared libraries.
Learn about Just-In-Time compilation and runtime code generation. Master basic JIT, register allocation, optimizations, IR design, tiered compilation, deoptimization, and self-hosting.
Learn about automatic memory management and garbage collection algorithms. Master mark-and-sweep, copying collection, generational GC, write barriers, reference counting, concurrent GC, and conservative collection.
Difficulty Progression