poser@csli.stanford.edu (Bill Poser) (06/06/90)
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. Since many students get their only exposure to automata theory, parsers, and the like in a compiler class, it makes sense to emphasis this aspect. -- 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.