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Development of 'C' compiler for 32-bit RISC processor
Development of 'C' compiler for 32-bit RISC processor
The following were the requirements from the customer for the optimizing C compiler:
| OS | Windows |
| Language/Platform |
|
| Development model | Waterfall development model |
| Quality validation tools |
|
| Test base |
|
The Japanese customer required the C compiler urgently. The estimation was based on the lines of code and it was scheduled to be delivered in 13 calendar months.
The project was decided to be developed in the waterfall model. Hence the project was divided into five phases.
1st Phase:
2nd Phase:
3rd Phase: Development of test specifications and test vectors
4th Phase:
5th Phase: Beta version of the C compiler
The C compiler was planned to develop as a 4-pass optimizing compiler.
Pass I
Pass II
Pass III
Pass IV
The toughest challenge faced was to generate assembly code with the code size being better than standard compilers. The team identified the optimizations that would be required to attain this. The optimizations were identified by studying standard compiler text books and by evaluating standard compilers. Upon the release of the Beta version of the compiler, the code size was better than standard compilers. But there were some quality issues.
As the compiler was developed from scratch and a short span of time, there were quality issues at the end 13 months. This was also because the best software practices were still evolving in Acme. The defect prone modules were identified and code was refined using the best software practices which by now had become part of Acme's development process. This helped in making the compiler stable. Currently the compiler is in maintenance phase.