Compiler Design: Interpretation, Compilation, and Bootstrapping

Ever wondered how the code you write actually runs on a computer, or how compilers themselves are built? This course demystifies the core mechanics of translation, compilation, and interpretation, giving you a solid conceptual foundation in language processing. What you'll learn: Understand the fundamental differences between compilers, interpreters, and hybrid execution models; Explore mixed computation and the mathematical beauty of Futamura-Ershov projections; Master the bootstrapping technique to build a compiler using its own source language; Analyze compiler architecture, including multi-pass designs and modern intermediate representations; Learn how lexical analysis, parsing, and code generation fit together in modern toolchains. You will start with foundational definitions and key terminology before exploring advanced translation concepts, conceptualizing how code transforms from raw text to executable instructions. This text-based course is designed for beginner software developers and computer science students with no prior compiler experience. Begin reading today to unlock the inner workings of modern programming languages.