Compiler construction is a part of practical computer science that includes - formal languages, Chomsky hiearchy and automata (DFAs, NFAs) - algorithms & data

Compiler construction is a part of practical computer science that includes - formal languages, Chomsky hiearchy and automata (DFAs, NFAs) - algorithms & data structures (syntax trees, symbol tables & hashing) - parsing algorithms - asymptotic complexity (of automata recognition/acceptance and parsing algorithms) - software architecture (single pass versus multi-pass, abstractions) - operations research (graph coloring based register allocation) - assembler & automatic code generation - virtual machines & interpreters It is a field where theory and practice come together beautifully (and works like the Aho et al. ¨Dragon Book¨ or Wirths ¨Compilers¨ are masterpieces that lucidly lay things out so after reading Chapter 2 of the former, or all of the latter short volume (barely 100 pages), a compiler is basically demystified to any undergrad).