2.2 Getting started with compilers

Despite the fact that compilers are used to translate programs from one form to another, they can also be considered large software systems that use various algorithms and data structures. The knowledge obtained by studying compilers can be used to design other scalable software systems as well. On the other hand, compilers are also a subject of active scientific research, and there are many unexplored areas and topics to investigate.

You can find some basic information about the internal structure of a compiler here. We will keep it as basic as possible so the information applies to any compiler, not just Clang. We will briefly cover all phases of compilation, which will help to understand Clang’s position in the overall compiler architecture.

2.2.1 Exploring the compiler workflow

The primary function of a compiler is to convert a program written in a specific programming language (such as C/C++ or FORTRAN) into a format that can be executed...