Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!bu.edu!snorkelwacker!spdcc!esegue!compilers-sender From: johnson@cs.uiuc.edu (Ralph Johnson) Newsgroups: comp.compilers Subject: Re: Unsafe Optimizations (WAS: Compiler Keywords: code, optimize Message-ID: <1990Jun7.171519.4178@esegue.segue.boston.ma.us> Date: 7 Jun 90 17:15:19 GMT Sender: compilers-sender@esegue.segue.boston.ma.us Reply-To: Ralph Johnson Organization: Compilers Central Lines: 17 Approved: compilers@esegue.segue.boston.ma.us >Another reason for emphasizing front ends is probably the fact that these >techniques are useful for lots of things other than writing compilers, >whereas code generation and optimization is mainly of interest to compiler >writers. The most important part of code optimization is dataflow analysis, data and control dependencies, and so on. This is very important in many areas of program analysis. I think that main reason that compiler courses emphasize front ends is tradition. I don't think that is a good reason. Ralph Johnson -- Send compilers articles to compilers@esegue.segue.boston.ma.us {spdcc | ima | lotus}!esegue. Meta-mail to compilers-request@esegue. Please send responses to the author of the message, not the poster.