compiler

Compiler Development

Technical Requirements for C++ Compiler Developer

Core Skills

C++ Programming

• Modern C++ (C++11/14/17/20) features
• Template metaprogramming
• SFINAE and concepts (C++20)
• Memory-efficient data structures
• Bit manipulation and low-level optimization

Compiler Theory

• Lexical analysis (tokenization)
• Parsing techniques (recursive descent, LR, LL)
• Abstract Syntax Tree (AST) construction
• Semantic analysis and type checking
• Intermediate Representation (IR) design
• Code generation and optimization passes
• Register allocation algorithms

Optimization Techniques

• Dead code elimination
• Constant folding and propagation
• Loop optimization (unrolling, invariant code motion)
• Inlining and interprocedural analysis
• Alias analysis
• Dataflow analysis

Tools & Technologies

Compiler Frameworks

• LLVM/Clang infrastructure
• GCC internals
• MLIR (Multi-Level Intermediate Representation)
• libFirm
• Custom compiler development

Parser Generators

• Flex/Lex (lexer generator)
• Bison/Yacc (parser generator)
• ANTLR
• Custom handwritten parsers

Assembly & Target

• x86/x64 assembly
• ARM assembly
• LLVM IR
• WebAssembly (WASM)
• DWARF debug information

Build Systems

• CMake for compiler projects
• TableGen for LLVM
• Custom build pipeline design

Domain Knowledge

• Formal language theory (automata, grammars)
• Type theory and type systems
• Linking and loading (ELF, Mach-O, PE formats)
• ABI (Application Binary Interface) compliance
• JIT compilation techniques
• Garbage collection algorithms
• Profile-guided optimization (PGO)