Target Code Selection by Tilling AST with the Use of Tree Pattern Pushdown Automaton

A new and simple method for target code selection by tilling an abstract syntax tree is presented. As it is usual, tree patterns corresponding to target machine instructions are matched in the abstract syntax tree. Matching tree patterns is performed with the use of tree pattern pushdown automaton, which accepts all tree patterns matching the abstract syntax tree in the linear postfix bar notation and represents a full index of the abstract syntax tree for tree patterns. The use of the index allows to match patterns quickly, in time depending on the size of patterns and not depending on the size of the tree. The selection of a particular target instruction corresponds to a modification of the abstract syntax tree and also a corresponding incremental modification of the index is performed. A reference to a fully functional prototype is provided. 1998 ACM Subject Classification D.3.4 Processors: Software, Programming languages, Code Generation, Compilers