Abstract

This is a software system, originally announced in 1982 without a name and subsequently dubbed PSP (Paulson's Semantics Processor) and occasionally CGSG (Compiler Generator for Semantic Grammars). It is a very early example of a compiler generator: something that can accept a formal definition of a programming language's syntax and semantics and deliver a compiler for that language. For PSP, the resulting compilers are slow and the generated code much slower (by three orders of magnitude compared with a normal compiler). Nevertheless they are interesting as subjects of research. The system consists of three separate programs (Grammar Analyser, Universal Translator, Stack Machine), all written in standard Pascal. The input language is a so-called Semantic Grammar, which is an attribute grammar incorporating denotational semantics.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.