Project Spring 2011

Design a general purpose programming language. It does not need
to be over-stuffed with features, but must include the following
required features:

        The basic Arithmetical and Logical operators
        Functions
        Conditionals and Loops
        Assignments
        Blocks (or "Compound Statements")
        Basic Input and Output capabilities
        Declarations of Local Variables
        More than one basic non-trivial Data Type;
                Integers are required, and at least one more
                Strings, Floats, whatever
        Objects with Members and Methods

The syntax of your language is up to you. Do not blindly follow
the familiar patterns from C or C++ or Java, as they lead to
unnecessary complexities.

Implement and thoroughly test a Lexical Analyser and informative
error reporting system.

Implement and thoroughly test a Parser and Tree Printer (preferably
a "pretty printer", for your own sake when debugging). You should
do this incrementally. First pick on one simple self-contained
part of the language (perhaps just expressions, excluding function
calls) and completely implement and test that. Then pick on another
part of the language that only requires what you have already got
(perhaps assigments) and completely implement and test that. Carry
on in that way, and progress is fast.
   You choose which style of parser to write, but for the sake of
getting it to work without too much pain, I recommend the recursive
descent style.

Implement and thoroughly test a basic type checker. It should at
least check that variables are declared and used properly, and
functions are called with the right types of parameters. It should
add to the parse tree and type conversion operations that are needed.

Implement a code generator for your language, so that programs can
actually be run and produce the correct results. You choose the target
system (i.e. what assembly language to produce).
   You may use your own virtual machine, 
   Or you may use the emulator used in the opreating systems class,
(see http://rabbit.eng.miami.edu/class/een521/111index.html, under
the heading "documentation")
   Or (if you are experienced with assembly level programming), you
may generate code for a real computer, such as an intel PC/mac system
or some microprocessor that you are familiar with. (I wonder if the
ever-popular arduino is feasible?). But DO make sure that you can
produce a basic assembly language program by hand that actually works
and produces visible results before choosing this third path.

Your implementation may be in C++ or Java. If you want to try using
some other language instead, discuss it with me first.