Engineering a Compiler, 2nd Edition

Chapter 4. Context-Sensitive Analysis

An input program that is grammatically correct may still contain serious errors that would prevent compilation. To detect such errors, a compiler performs a further level of checking that involves considering each statement in its actual context. These checks find errors of type and of agreement.

This chapter introduces two techniques for context-sensitive checking. Attribute grammars are a functional formalism for specifying context-sensitive computation. Ad hoc syntax-directed translation provides a simple framework where the compiler writer can hang arbitrary code snippets to perform these checks.

Keywords: Semantic Elaboration, Type Checking, Attribute Grammars, Ad Hoc Syntax Directed Translation

4.1. Introduction ...