The linear graph package, a compiler building environment

ABSTRACT

The Linear Graph package is a collection of software tools that provides a software development environment particularly well suited to compiler construction. More precisely, the Linear Graph (or “LG”) package is a generic specification of these tools. No specific implementation language or host computer system is presumed, and, in fact, LG packages have been built in several languages on a variety of computers. These LG packages have proved to be powerful tools. We have used LG to build two FORTRAN-77 compilers, a JOVIAL compiler, and a Pascal compiler; we are presently using LG to build a CHILL compiler, an Ada* compiler, a third FORTRAN-77 compiler, and an optimizer for the JOVIAL compiler. We have also used LG to build some related support software: the linker used with the Pascal compiler, and a global symbol data base system for the JOVIAL and Pascal compilers. The LG package simplified the design, implementation, and maintenance of these compilers and support programs.

REFERENCES

• 1: William Allan Wulf , Richard K. Johnsson , Charles B. Weinstock , Steven O. Hobbs , Charles M. Geschke, The Design of an Optimizing Compiler, Elsevier Science Inc., New York, NY, 1975
• 2: J. Newcomer, et al, PQCC User's Manual, Internal CMU working paper, 26 July 1979.
• 3: G. Fostel, The LG User's Guide. Cambridge, MA: Intermetrics IR-247-2, 7 December 1979.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.4 Processors
          Subjects: Translator writing systems and compiler generators

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.1 Requirements/Specifications
          Subjects: Tools

  G. Mathematics of Computing
  G.2 DISCRETE MATHEMATICS
      G.2.2 Graph Theory

General Terms:
Languages, Theory