- Programming Languages and Compilers

Catalog description

A study of the design and implementation of programming languages, emphasizing theoretical foundations and practical application. Students explore major language paradigms—imperative, object-oriented, functional, and declarative—through the lens of syntax, semantics, and language design trade-offs. Topics include regular expressions, grammars, and formal semantics, providing the tools to reason about language correctness and design. A central feature of the course is a semester-long project in which students implement a compiler, applying theoretical concepts to construct a working system. By the end of the course, students will have developed a deeper understanding of how language designers create programming languages, how languages shape problem-solving, and how to effectively evaluate and learn new languages.