Introduction

In Code Generation step, the ExpL compiler converts the intermediate representation (the abstract syntax tree) of the ExpL program to a machine code that can be readily executed by the XSM machine.

The codeGen() function takes as input a pointer to the root of an abstract syntax tree and a pointer to a file to which the target code has to be written. The codeGen() function generates assembly code corresponding to the program represented by the AST. The codeGen() function essentially invokes itself recursively to generate assembly code for the subtrees. The result of evaluation is a value which is stored in a register. The codeGen() function returns the register number that would contain the evaluated value when the assembly code is executed. (when no value results in evaluating a tree node, there is no register allocated to store the value and -1 is returned by codeGen() indicating this fact).

Implementation

codeGen() function recursively generates code for each nodetype. Firstly, the code is generated for the first subtree, 'ptr1' (if not NULL) and it's value is stored in say register R_i by calling the codeGen() function with pointer to AST 'ptr1'. Similarly, code is generated for second and third subtrees 'ptr2' and 'ptr3' and results are in registers say R_j and R_k. Finally, using the registers R_i, R_j and R_k, code is generated for the current node.

Lets consider the nodetype PLUS. PLUS has two operands which are represented by subtrees 'ptr1' and 'ptr2'. Code for 'ptr1' and 'ptr2' is generated by the following instructions.

                        i = codeGen(t->ptr1);
                        j = codeGen(t->ptr2);
                    

Finally, the value to the current node is evaluated and saved to register R_i and R_j is freed.

                        fprintf() //Add this during implementation
                        free_register(j);
                    

Following is how code is generated for the nodetype 'while'. Note that, the labels generated here are psuedo addresses. We will deal about replacing the labels with actual address in the label translation documentation.

We have two subtrees for 'while' nodetype. 'ptr1' representing the conditional expression in while statement and 'ptr2' representing the body of while statement.

1. Get two labels using get_label() function and write down the first label, say 'LL1' to the intermediate code, so that we can identify where exactly the code for while starts.
2. Then, the code for conditional expresssion represented by 'ptr1' is generated and value stored into a register, say R_i.
3. Next, we would check the value in R_i, if its zero, i.e, conditional expression has evaluated to false, we would jump to the end of the while code. So, the next instruction is to check if R_i is zero and jump on to second label, say LL2 where the code to the body of while statement ends.
4. If the value in register R_i is not zero, i.e, the conditional expression evaluted to true, the we would execute the body of while. Therefore, after the above steps code for 'ptr2' is generated and at the end of it, the jump statement to the first label, LL1 is given, so that, the conditional expression can be evalauted again and the decision whether to execute the body of while is made.
5. Finally the second label is given,so that we can mark the end of while statement.

For the code generation for functions, the activities are given here.

For making library calls, follow the steps given in the invoking a library module section in Application Binary Interface documentation.

Illustration

Consider the ExpL program given below.

The XSM instructions for the above while code (lines 11-12) will be as follows: