Book Image

Learn LLVM 17 - Second Edition

By : Kai Nacke, Amy Kwan
Book Image

Learn LLVM 17 - Second Edition

By: Kai Nacke, Amy Kwan

Overview of this book

LLVM was built to bridge the gap between the theoretical knowledge found in compiler textbooks and the practical demands of compiler development. With a modular codebase and advanced tools, LLVM empowers developers to build compilers with ease. This book serves as a practical introduction to LLVM, guiding you progressively through complex scenarios and ensuring that you navigate the challenges of building and working with compilers like a pro. The book starts by showing you how to configure, build, and install LLVM libraries, tools, and external projects. You’ll then be introduced to LLVM's design, unraveling its applications in each compiler stage: frontend, optimizer, and backend. Using a real programming language subset, you'll build a frontend, generate LLVM IR, optimize it through the pipeline, and generate machine code. Advanced chapters extend your expertise, covering topics such as extending LLVM with a new pass, using LLVM tools for debugging, and enhancing the quality of your code. You'll also focus on just-in-time compilation issues and the current state of JIT-compilation support with LLVM. Finally, you’ll develop a new backend for LLVM, gaining insights into target description and how instruction selection works. By the end of this book, you'll have hands-on experience with the LLVM compiler development framework through real-world examples and source code snippets.
Table of Contents (20 chapters)
1
Part 1: The Basics of Compiler Construction with LLVM
4
Part 2: From Source to Machine Code Generation
10
Part 3: Taking LLVM to the Next Level
14
Part 4: Roll Your Own Backend

Index

As this ebook edition doesn't have fixed pagination, the page numbers below are hyperlinked for reference only, based on the printed edition of this book.

A

abstract syntax tree (AST) 20, 26, 33-36, 51, 83

IR, generating from 83, 84

used, for generating LLVM IR 40-44

abstract syntax tree (AST) class 222

address sanitizer

memory access problems, detecting with 246-248

ahead-of-time (AOT) compilers 218

alias analysis 139

AntLR tool

reference link 70

application

implementing, with sanitizers 246

arithmetic expression language 20

grammar 21

syntax 20

assembler parser

implementing 299

instruction printer support class, implementing for M88k Target 302-304

M88k assembler parser class, creating 305-312

M88k-specific target description, implementing 304

MCAsmInfo support class, implementing for M88k Target 299-302

assembler text

emitting 106-109

AST description

type, converting into LLVM...