Chapter 5: Basics of IR Code Generation
Having created a decorated Abstract Syntax Tree (AST) for your programming language, the next task is to generate the LLVM IR code from it. LLVM IR code resembles three-address code, with a human-readable representation. Therefore, we need a systematic approach to translate language concepts such as control structures into the lower level of LLVM IR.
In this chapter, you will learn about the basics of LLVM IR, and how to generate IR for control flow structures from the AST. You will also learn how to generate LLVM IR for expressions in Static Single Assignment (SSA) form, using a modern algorithm. Finally, you will learn how to emit assembler text and object code.
This chapter will cover the following topics:
- Generating IR from the AST
- Using AST numbering to generate IR code in SSA form
- Setting up the module and the driver
By the end of the chapter, you will have acquired the knowledge to create a code generator for...
