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From: Roger L Costello <costello@mitre.org>
Newsgroups: comp.compilers
Subject: Are compiler developers light-years ahead of other software development?
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2022 14:36:30 +0000
Organization: Compilers Central
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Hello Compiler Experts!

I am learning the algorithms and theory underlying parsing. Wow! I am
discovering that parsing has such a rich theoretical foundation: grammars, LL,
LR, first() function, following() function, parsing tables, etc.

In all the software that I have written, I am lucky if I can use one or two
algorithms that have a theoretical foundation. Mostly, the software is one-off
code.

The mathematician Alfred North Whitehead has this wonderful phrase [1]:

	... the slow accumulation of clear and relevant ideas.

The parsing community has done that - the community has slowly accumulated
clear and relevant ideas.

I can't think of any other branch of computer science where there is such a
rich foundation upon which to develop software.

Are compiler developers light-years ahead of other software development?

/Roger

[1] An Introduction to Mathematics by Alfred North Whitehead, p. 19.