Techniques and advantages of using the formal compiler writing system FSL to implement a Formula Algol compiler

Abstract

Implementing a compiler, as everybody knows, is not an easy task. There have appeared in the past few years a number of compiler writing systems. One of these is Feldman's "Formal Semantic Language" (FSL). In Feldman's thesis the assertion is made that FSL is potentially a powerful compiler writing system. The Formula Algol compiler is a large, nontrivial compiler incorporating several new language features, and the use of FSL to implement it constitutes the first significant test of the power of FSL. We find Feldman's assertion is justified, and the ideas he set forth in theory have been found to be successful in practice.