Attribute grammars made easier: EvDebugger a visual debugger for attribute grammars

Abstract

Compiler construction courses are usually considered by the students as a difficult subject of the Computer Science degree. The main problem found by the students is to fully understand the theoretical concepts taught during the course and its practical application to build a compiler. In this paper, we present a platform for the development and debugging of language processors based on attribute grammar-oriented specifications. The main aim of this tool is to help students to design their own language processors, supported by the visual debugger included. The animations provided by EvDebugger show, in an attractive way, how the attribute evaluation process is performed. In this way, students are able to solve design problems, improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their language processors and understand their operation through experimentation and debugging provided with the software tool. Besides, we performed an assessment study with students of a Compiler Construction course whose results are presented and discussed in this paper.