Automatic generation of parallel compilers in the PVM environment

The so-called high-performance computers are usually intended for regular, large-scale numerical computation. However, these machines can also be used for other kinds of computations, such as compilers. We report a prototype parallel evaluation system for ordered attribute grammar in the PVM environment. A compiler, which seems inherently sequential, is specified in terms of an (ordered) attribute grammar. The evaluation sequence for this attribute-grammar specification is automatically generated. Finally, a frontend, which consists of a scanner and a parser, and a backend, which partitions the work of evaluation among tasks and coordinates the cooperation of these tasks, together implement the specified compiler. This system is useful not only for parallel compiler construction but also for many other applications for attribute grammars.

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