Cricket Chirp: Teaching Compiler Construction/Language Processing Using Embedded Robot Controller

Traditionally, the topic of compiler construction/language processing has been taught as a selective advanced course in Computer Science curricula, due to its rich content and subject complexity. However, under such an approach, students may opt not to take the course and graduate with little understanding and experience with the highly useful techniques embodied in modern compiler construction. In this paper, we present an embedded robot controllerbased teaching framework to teach the fundamentals of compiler/language processor in intermediate-level undergraduate programming course. Our approach leverages the simple yet versatile Cricket educational robot controller. We designed the Chirp language to expose the capabilities of the Cricket virtual machine. Students will build the Chirp compiler and generate Cricket bytecode running on both Chirp simulator and real robot. The Chirp compiler design is organized as a series of components in Java, which demonstrate key compiler construction techniques including lexing, parsing, semantic analysis, error handling and code generation. The Chirp framework provides a balanced and realistic engaging environment to teach compilers in undergraduate core programming courses.