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Compiler design was one subject that I struggled with when I was an undergrad. I feel this has held me back from creating DSLs. I am looking for a gentle int

Compiler design was one subject that I struggled with when I was an undergrad. I feel this has held me back from creating DSLs. I am looking for a gentle introduction to ANTLR that can take me from newbie to mastery. Any books anyone can recommend would be helpful.

fusiongyro 10y ago
The book "Language Implementation Patterns"[1] covers ANTLR 3, and the author (who is one of the implementors of ANTLR) walks you through successively more interesting DSLs until you're basically building a programming language, but does it in small steps. I didn't struggle with compilers as an undegrad at all, and I found this book too slow for me, so I'm optimistic that you will be pleased by the pacing. :) If you want to see a way older approach, I did really enjoy Jack Crenshaw's "Let's Build a Compiler"[2]—but it's so vintage it may be totally hipster by now. :) [1] https://www.amazon.com/Language-Implementation-Patterns-Domain-Specific-Programming/dp/193435645X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1481865280&sr=8-2&keywords=antlr https://www.amazon.com/Language-Implementation-Patterns-Doma... [2] http://compilers.iecc.com/crenshaw/ http://compilers.iecc.com/crenshaw/
breck 10y ago
The Antlr-4 book is terrific: https://pragprog.com/book/tpantlr2/the-definitive-antlr-4-reference https://pragprog.com/book/tpantlr2/the-definitive-antlr-4-re...
- kriro 10y ago
  Indeed. As someone with no real language background it allowed me to get to a state where I can create my own DSLs. An alternative would be to use something like Xtext (which also allows you to create langauge tools, not just the language itself). I played around with it and it's very nice (granted you'll kind of need to embrace Eclipse) but ultimately decided that ANTLR was "enough".
heysunshine123 10y ago
Look into "Pratt Parsers". It's reasonably easy to implement one based on some blog posts etc.

fusiongyro 10y ago

The book "Language Implementation Patterns"[1] covers ANTLR 3, and the author (who is one of the implementors of ANTLR) walks you through successively more interesting DSLs until you're basically building a programming language, but does it in small steps. I didn't struggle with compilers as an undegrad at all, and I found this book too slow for me, so I'm optimistic that you will be pleased by the pacing. :) If you want to see a way older approach, I did really enjoy Jack Crenshaw's "Let's Build a Compiler"[2]—but it's so vintage it may be totally hipster by now. :) [1] https://www.amazon.com/Language-Implementation-Patterns-Domain-Specific-Programming/dp/193435645X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1481865280&sr=8-2&keywords=antlr https://www.amazon.com/Language-Implementation-Patterns-Doma... [2] http://compilers.iecc.com/crenshaw/ http://compilers.iecc.com/crenshaw/

breck 10y ago

The Antlr-4 book is terrific: https://pragprog.com/book/tpantlr2/the-definitive-antlr-4-reference https://pragprog.com/book/tpantlr2/the-definitive-antlr-4-re...

kriro 10y ago
Indeed. As someone with no real language background it allowed me to get to a state where I can create my own DSLs. An alternative would be to use something like Xtext (which also allows you to create langauge tools, not just the language itself). I played around with it and it's very nice (granted you'll kind of need to embrace Eclipse) but ultimately decided that ANTLR was "enough".

heysunshine123 10y ago

Look into "Pratt Parsers". It's reasonably easy to implement one based on some blog posts etc.