Compiler development 2/2

OK, what is the status It's in the technical design phase. Graphica is a 3D scene graph language, ( the first version of ) the Graphica compiler generates Mathematica source code that will be handled by Mathematica ( another target to compile to could be Java/jReality for example ). I am at the point of studying the theory behind compilers and the selection of tools, candidates I have pre-selected are:
- ANTLR,
- javaCC,
- jparsec and
- an all handcrafted option.
More options may pop-up while studying though. I selected four books to study:
- (1) Modern compiler implementation in Java, A.Appel, CUP 2004
- (2) Programming Language Processors in Java, D.Watt, D.Brown, Prentice Hall 2000
- (3) ANT LR Reference, Terence Parr, Pragmatic Bookshelf 2007
- (4) Compilers, PT&T, Aho, et al, Pearson 2007
Title (4) is aka the Dragon book and supposedly is the best book on the subject, I'll use that as a glossary. Title (1) supports a javaCC approach, and develops MiniJava, a subset of Java, (2) builds a compiler and interpreter for a language called Triangle ( with Java ). I already downloaded the source, created a project for it in NetBeans and tested a few compiles and runs of a Triangle program which is a Pascal type of language. Several bugs have been reported over the years which I have collected and should fix. Title (3) is clearly pro ANTLR. And (4) is the authoritative reference. Some of the books may seem old but I used a list from a 2010 university syllabus.

I'll have to solve one other issue on the Mathematica side of the project, and that is how to remotely create a Notebook using a kernel I am connected to in Java. Once that is solved I can continue programming, using a stub compiler if necessary.

The purpose of Graphica is to stimulate my personal development and knowledge of computer science, so any pro-s and con-s that I might mention are clearly mine and have to be seen in that light only.

To be continued

3D Models of Polyhedra for M208: Virtual or Reality?

Included in the M208 course materials are kits to create physical models of the regular polyhedra. In the picture below you see the kit for the Icosahedron.

But it is always handy to play with a virtual model of the Icosahedron...

I think both models will help to burn these models in my brain circuits so that they become as natural as the cube or the sphere. I can already dream the tetrahedron and the octahedron ( and the cube of course ) it's time for the icosahedron and the dodecahedron.


Although I could have generated the Icosahedron with one command in Mathematica like this

I decided to use jReality because it is a professional 3D graphics engine ( capable of displaying Mathematica graphics files and a zillion other formats ) which I might need for some research I intend to do.

Group Theory Applets

I have found several Java Applets that can aid in learning ( teaching ) some concepts in Group Theory. Find them on ShOp Java Applets.

Examples:

Powers of permutations
Orbits and stabilizers
Fixed sets for orbit counting
Permutations: the symmetric group S4
Cosets, Lagrange and factor groups

(c) Sheffield University Open University Java Applets