Automatic code generation for microprocessor based systems

Abstract

In this paper we present a system for the automatic generation of code generators for small computer systems. This system runs under Unix (a trademark of AT&T Bell Laboratories) and along with Lex and YACC provides an automatic compiler generator system. The system takes as Input a machine description and produces a code generator for the particular machine. The machine architecture of the target microcomputer is represented using a machine description language based on ISPS with the instruction set defined following the IEEE proposed standard for microprocessor assembly languages. A user can produce a code generator for any microcomputer with this code generator generator. The only requirement of the user is an understanding of the standard machine description language adopted and the particular machine architecture involved. The level of understanding required is only that which is typically supplied in an assembly language programming manual. This investigation builds on the techniques of Graham-Glanville and Ganapathi. By limiting the scope of our system to computers based on current 16-bit microprocessors and using the IEEE standard for part of the machine language we are able to automate the process to a greater extent than prior work in this area.