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Further reading □ Overview □ Main papers □ ManualIntroductionIR MacCallum (thesis)RosenTrees/Routines □ Implementation □ Listing: OverviewSection 1Section 2Section 3Section 4IndexFlow diagramsSyntax analysis in compilers □ CC and Autocodes □ AutocodesMercury Autocode (MA) facilitiesMA in CCTwo-level storageAtlas Autocode (AA) featuresCC in AAIndex-directed □ Other papers □ Compiler SystemAssemblerRealisationTranslation programExperience with CCCC re-examinedThird-order compilerUseful subsetsLavingtonCoulourisReview of Rohl book □ CC on Bendix G21 □ G21 manualG21 flow diagrams □ Translator Writing Systems (TWS) □ Early TWSMetcalfe paperComputer Assoc. Inc paper
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ACLApplicationsCompiler Compiler
ACLApplicationsCompiler Compiler
ACL ACD C&A INF CCD CISD Archives
Further reading

Overview
Main papers
ManualIntroductionIR MacCallum (thesis)RosenTrees/Routines
Implementation
Listing: OverviewSection 1Section 2Section 3Section 4IndexFlow diagramsSyntax analysis in compilers
CC and Autocodes
AutocodesMercury Autocode (MA) facilitiesMA in CCTwo-level storageAtlas Autocode (AA) featuresCC in AAIndex-directed
Other papers
Compiler SystemAssemblerRealisationTranslation programExperience with CCCC re-examinedThird-order compilerUseful subsetsLavingtonCoulourisReview of Rohl book
CC on Bendix G21
G21 manualG21 flow diagrams
Translator Writing Systems (TWS)
Early TWSMetcalfe paperComputer Assoc. Inc paper

Brooker-Morris Compiler Compiler: Overview

In 1960, several systems appeared aimed at easing the task of producing a compiler. They went under a variety of names including translator writing system, compiler-compiler and meta-compiler. As such a system is capable of generating a compiler, it may be possible for it to generate itself. Although not a requirement, it adds a certain elegance to the system and makes enhancement of the system relatively straightforward. A base system can be defined and this can be used to define a more powerful system and so on. Three of the earliest systems were:

The Brooker-Morris Compiler Compiler was used to produce many of the compilers used on the Atlas computers. Examples include: ACL, Algol, Atlas Autocode, CPL, EMA, Fortran IV, SAL and SOL.

To give a better idea of the system, the main published papers have been collected here.

This section contains an updated version of the Annual Review in Automatic Programming Volume III paper published in 1963, regarded as the definitive description of the Brooker-Morris Compiler Compiler. It also contains a complete listing of the system printed out by Iain MacCallum in December 1963.

In September 1966, Bob Hopgood moved to Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie-Mellon University) in Pittsburgh for a sabbatical year there. At the time, there was a major project at Carnegie Tech to produce a new Translator Writing System called CABAL. To demonstrate what was possible with the Brooker-Morris Compiler Compiler, Bob ported the Compiler Compiler to the Bendix G21 computer. This was completed around January 1967 using a listing printed off in August 1966. It was primarily an exercise in really understanding the Compiler Compiler, but there was also some interest in later porting it to the 360/67, thus making it as machine independent as possible. As part of the port, a manual and flow diagrams were produced for the Compiler Compiler implementation. Bill Williams at the University of London Atlas received a copy of these from Bob Hopgood on his return to the UK in 1967 and recently OCRd them; these are also included here together with some manuals contributed (indirectly) by Tony Pritchett and scanned by Kate Sullivan (SOL, Revised report on Algol 60).

Other useful papers will be added if they come to light.

The Compiler Compiler

The Compiler Compiler
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