CS440-002: Compilers (Fall 2025)

1 Course Basics

1.1 Meeting Time and Location:

• Monday/Wednesday 9-10:15am, Planetary Hall 124

1.2 Instructor: Dr. Yutao Zhong

• Email: yzhong (at) gmu (dot) edu

• Compiler design
• Lexical analysis
• Syntax analysis - grammars, LL(1) parsers, LR(1) parsers
• Semantic processing
• Code generation
• Code optimization

1.4 Course Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students should

• Be able to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of compilation, including its major phases, foundational theory, and common features.
• Be able to understand, define, and implement lexical rules for a programming language; be able to use Flex or similar tools to construct lexical analyzers.
• Be able to understand, define and implement grammar rules for a programming language; be able to construct parsers using manual techniques like recursive descent and/or parser generators such as Yacc or Bison.
• Be able to perform semantic analysis; be able to apply syntax-directed translation techniques to enforce semantic rules and generate intermediate code.
• Be able to translate high-level programming constructs into low-level representations; be able to explain the key challenges and solutions for efficient code generation.
• Be able to explain and apply optimization techniques to improve the generated code; be familiar with selected advanced topics and emerging trends in compiler design and implementation.
  

1.5 Prerequisites: C or better in CS310/CS330/CS367

This is a programming intensive course. Students should have strong programming skills with at least one language in C/C++/Java. Students are expected to be acquainted with formal models and languages(CS330), computer systems and assembly languages(CS367), and data structures(CS310).

1.6 Textbook:

• Required - Compilers: Principles, Techniques and Tools, Aho, Lam, Sethi, and Ullman (aka Dragon book), 2/E, Addison-Wesley, August, 2006. Errata Page.
• Recommended - lex & yacc, Levine, Mason, and Brown, published by O'Reilly, 2nd Edition, October 1992. Errata Page.

1.7 Other Useful Resources:

• Canvas: Course schedule, announcements, lecture slides, assignments, and grades release.
  
• Piazza: Discussion forum. Follow the link on Canvas to sign up.
• Gradescope: Quizzes. Link to Gradescope site will be available from Canvas.

2 Grading

2.1 Assessment

• A+ (>= 97.0%) A (>= 91.0%) A– (>= 89.0%)
• B+ (>= 87.0%) B (>= 80.0%) B– (>= 78.0%)
• C+ (>= 76.0%) C (>= 70.0%) C– (>= 68.0%)
• D (>= 60.0%)
• F (< 60.0%)

2.2 Projects

• All projects must be done on an individual basis unless stated otherwise.
• All project grades are normalized and each contributes to your final grade evenly.
  
• Incorrect/broken submissions:
• Code that doesn't compile/run will likely get a very low score. It specifically MUST compile/run on zeus.cec.gmu.edu (Zeus Server).
• Turning in the wrong files or corrupted files will likely result in a zero.
• If you turn in the wrong files, the ONLY way you MIGHT receive credit is by showing your professor a backup where the modified date on the files is outside of your control. Modified dates on personal computers and/or public computers are NEVER accepted as proof of work. Backups which WILL ALWAYS be considered are: backup copy on zeus; prior submissions to Gradescope/Canvas; or emails to your Professor/GTA. Backups which MIGHT be accepted include: emails from your GMU email to yourself, uploading to certain backup services (such as OneDrive or a private GitHub repo).
• Late Policy:
  • Projects can be turned in at most 48 hours late, no exceptions.
  • Submitting an assignment late incurs a 25% ceiling penalty each day.
  • For submissions one day late without a token or two days late with only one token, your final score = min(raw_score, 75%).
  • For submissions two days late with no tokens, your final score = min(raw_score, 50%).
    
  • Each student gets three "Emergency Day" tokens, which are automatically used by late submissions. Up to two tokens can be applied to each project.
  • Unused emergency-tokens have no grade value at the end of the semester.
    
  • Canvas/Gradescope being unavailable is not an excuse for turning in a late assignment; in the rare situation that the website is somehow unavailable or giving the student an error, the student MUST email their submissions to their GTA before the deadline, otherwise it will be considered late.
  • Catastrophic computer failure will not be cause for an extension. Use a backup service such as OneDrive (or any cloud service), emailing yourself, making multiple rounds of submissions to Canvas/Gradescope, whatever it takes.
    

2.3 Quizzes

• There will be weekly online quizzes for most of the weeks.
  
• The lowest quiz grade will be dropped.
• Late Policy: no late submission accepted for quizzes.

2.4 Exams

• Exams are closed book unless specified otherwise by instructor.  They will be entirely paper and pencil - no computers, cell phones, calculators, or other such resources are allowed.
• All students must have their GMU identification available on testing days.
• Early or Late/Makeup Exams require exceptional circumstances (as judged by the professor) and must be arranged in advance. Vacation plans are not exceptional circumstances. You are starting the course with knowledge of the schedule (see GMU's Final Exam Calendar for the latest schedule, updated as weather events require).
• If you miss an exam due to a university-accepted excused absence (such as an illness or car accident the day and time of the exam), you must notify your professor within 24 hours of your absence to make arrangements for a makeup, and bring approved documentation with you when you take the make-up exam. Failure to follow either of these policies will result in a zero. We may elect to allow the final exam to count the extra amount to give you a sort of do-over for missed midterms; we also reserve the right to give oral makeup exams in lieu of written.
• Missing an exam due for any non-university-accepted reason (such as not paying attention to when the exam is), will result in a zero.
• Do not miss the Final Exam. This requires College Dean's Approval to make-up.

2.5 Discussion board

• Students are encouraged to use the discussion board, Piazza, to ask and answer questions.  
• No sharing answers to homework assignments on the discussion board. 
  
• Under no circumstances should your code of assignments be posted publicly to the discussion board. Students can post questions and code privately, although the instructor reserves the right to make any post public, so that other students can see the responses.

2.6 Other

• Contested Grades: Contesting of grades on any/all submissions must be requested within one week of receiving the grade. No grade changes will be considered subsequent to that deadline.
• There will be no make-up or extra-credit assignments at the end of the semester; your grade should be a measure of your semester-long progress.
  
• IN (Incomplete) policy as indicated in the catalog will be strictly adhered to. You must provide the necessary back-up documentation (e.g. medical certificate) for your application to be considered favorably. In all circumstances, the written request, with all the back up documentation, must be received before the final exam week.

3 Policies

3.0 GMU Common Policies Addendum

3.1 Academic Standards (Honor Code)

3.2 Privacy

• All course materials posted to Canvas or other course sites are private; by federal law, any materials that identify specific students (via their name, voice, or image) must not be shared with anyone not enrolled in this class.
• Video recordings of class meetings that include audio or visual information from other students are private and must not be shared.
• Live Video Conference Meetings (e.g. Collaborate or Zoom) that include audio or visual information from other students must be viewed privately and not shared with others.

3.3 Non-discrimination and Inclusiveness

• We are committed to providing an educational environment free from any discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin, sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other identity category. If you encounter any barriers to your inclusion, please contact the professor. You can also get assistance by contacting GMU's Office of Access, Compliance, and Community (703-993-8730; https://oacc.gmu.edu/).
• Gender identity and pronoun use: If you wish, please share your name and gender pronouns with us and we will attempt use them to address you in class and via email.
  

3.4 Sexual Harassment, Sexual Misconduct, and Interpersonal Violence

• All faculty members are designated "Responsible Employees", and are required to report all disclosures of sexual assault, interpersonal violence, and stalking to Mason’s Title IX Coordinator per university policy 1412. If you wish to speak with someone confidentially, please contact the Student Support and Advocacy Center (703-380-1434) or Counseling and Psychological Services (703-993-2380). You may also seek assistance from Mason’s Title IX Coordinator (703-993-8730; titleix@gmu.edu).

4 Learning Disabilities

Students with a learning disability or other condition (documented with GMU's Office of Disability Services) that may impact academic performance should speak with the professor ASAP to discuss appropriate accommodations.

5 Campus Resources

• Office of Disability Services
• Learning Services
• Academic Standards Office
• Student Health Service
• Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
• Student Support and Advocacy Center(SSAC)
• Writing Center
• Computer Labs
• List of Student Support Resources on Campus from Stearns Center