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Language Meaning Specification Through Semantic Analysis

Learn the phases of compilation, formal syntax, grammar, and dynamic semantics in programming languages. Understand attribute grammars and annotation flow for program meaning.

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Language Meaning Specification Through Semantic Analysis

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  1. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Lecture 12: Semantic Analysis COMP 144 Programming Language Concepts Spring 2002 Felix Hernandez-Campos Feb 6 COMP 144 Programming Language Concepts Felix Hernandez-Campos

  2. Source Code Interpre- tation Target Code Semantic AnalysisFrom Code Form To Program Meaning Compiler or Interpreter Translation Execution COMP 144 Programming Language Concepts Felix Hernandez-Campos

  3. Phases of Compilation COMP 144 Programming Language Concepts Felix Hernandez-Campos

  4. Specification of Programming Languages • PLs require precise definitions (i.e. no ambiguity) • Language form (Syntax) • Language meaning (Semantics) • Consequently, PLs are specified using formal notation: • Formal syntax • Tokens • Grammar • Formal semantics • Attribute Grammars • Dynamic Semantics COMP 144 Programming Language Concepts Felix Hernandez-Campos

  5. Attribute Grammars • Context-Free Grammars (CFGs) are used to specify the syntax of programming languages • E.g. arithmetic expressions • How do we tie these rules to mathematical concepts? • Attribute grammars are annotated CFGs in which annotations are used to establish meaning relationships among symbols • Annotations are also known as decorations COMP 144 Programming Language Concepts Felix Hernandez-Campos

  6. Each grammar symbols has a set of attributes E.g. the value of E1 is the attribute E1.val Each grammar rule has a set of rules over the symbol attributes Copy rules Semantic Function rules E.g. sum, quotient Attribute GrammarsExample COMP 144 Programming Language Concepts Felix Hernandez-Campos

  7. Attribute Flow • Context-free grammars are not tied to an specific parsing order • E.g. Recursive descent, LR parsing • Attribute grammars are not tied to an specific evaluation order • This evaluation is known as the annotation or decoration of the parse tree COMP 144 Programming Language Concepts Felix Hernandez-Campos

  8. Attribute Flow Example • The figure shows the result of annotating the parse tree for (1+3)*2 • Each symbols has at most one attribute shown in the corresponding box • Numerical value in this example • Operator symbols have no value • Arrows represent attribute flow COMP 144 Programming Language Concepts Felix Hernandez-Campos

  9. Attribute Flow Example COMP 144 Programming Language Concepts Felix Hernandez-Campos

  10. Attribute FlowSynthetic and Inherited Attributes • In the previous example, semantic information is pass up the parse tree • We call this type of attributes are called synthetic attributes • Attribute grammar with synthetic attributes only are said to be S-attributed • Semantic information can also be passed down the parse tree • Using inherited attributes • Attribute grammar with inherited attributes only are said to be non-S-attributed COMP 144 Programming Language Concepts Felix Hernandez-Campos

  11. Attribute FlowInherited Attributes • Semantic information can also be passed down the parse tree • Using inherited attributes • Attribute grammar with inherited attributes only are said to be non-S-attributed • Top-down grammars generally require non-S-attributed flows • The previous annotated grammar was an S-attributed LR(1) COMP 144 Programming Language Concepts Felix Hernandez-Campos

  12. Non-S-Attributed GrammarsExample COMP 144 Programming Language Concepts Felix Hernandez-Campos

  13. Action Routines • Automatic tools can construct a parser for a given context-free grammar • E.g. yacc • Automatic tools can construct a semantic analyzer for an attribute grammar • An ad hoc techniques is to annotate the grammar with executable rules • These rules are known as action routines COMP 144 Programming Language Concepts Felix Hernandez-Campos

  14. Action RoutinesExample COMP 144 Programming Language Concepts Felix Hernandez-Campos

  15. Static and Dynamic Semantics • Attribute grammars add basic semantic rules to the specification of a language • They specify static semantics • But they are limited to the semantic form that can be checked at compile time • Other semantic properties cannot be checked at compile time • They are described using dynamic semantics COMP 144 Programming Language Concepts Felix Hernandez-Campos

  16. Dynamic Semantics • Use to formally specify the behavior of a programming language • Semantic-based error detection • Correctness proofs • There is not a universally accepted notation • Operational semantics • Executing statements that represent changes in the state of a real or simulated machine • Axiomatic semantics • Using predicate calculus (pre and post-conditions) • Denotational semantics • Using recursive function theory COMP 144 Programming Language Concepts Felix Hernandez-Campos

  17. Semantic Specification • The most common way of specifying the semantics of a language is plain english • http://www.python.org/doc/current/ref/binary.html • http://www.python.org/doc/current/ref/while.html • http://java.sun.com/docs/books/jls/first_edition/html/14.doc.html#24588 • There is a lack of formal rigor in the semantic specification of programming languages • Guess why COMP 144 Programming Language Concepts Felix Hernandez-Campos

  18. Reading Assignment • Scott’s chapter 4 • Section 4.1 • Section 4.2 • Section 4.3 • Section 4.4 COMP 144 Programming Language Concepts Felix Hernandez-Campos

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