The purpose of CS195R is to explore intermediate representations often used in compilers such as continuation passing style and static single assignment form, along with the optimizations that these representations make possible. The course will also examine language runtimes, and elements within them, such as garbage collectors. The class will take a look at these topics through weekly discussions and readings, and by implementing a Pyret compiler (part of it with a partner) over the course of the semester.

Students will be using the Pyret programming language to write their Pyret to LLVM compiler, but some support code will be provided in Pyret to make it easy to test correctness and to help alleviate the workload.