Introducing Certified Compilation in Education by a Functional Language Approach

• Classes on compiler technology are commonly found in Computer Science curricula, covering aspects of parsing, semantic analysis, intermediate transformations and target code generation. This paper reports on introducing certified compilation techniques through a functional language approach in an introductory course on Compiler Construction. Targeting students with little or no experience in formal methods, the proof process is highly automated using the Why3 framework. Underlying logic, semantic modelling and proofs are introduced along with exercises and assignments leading up to a formally verified compiler for a simplistic imperative language.This paper covers the motivation, course design, tool selection, and teaching methods, together with evaluations and suggested improvements from the perspectives of both students and teachers.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Elektroteknik och elektronik -- Inbäddad systemteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering -- Embedded Systems (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Dependable Communication and Computation Systems

Kommunikations- och beräkningssystem

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)