Reddit mentions of Engineering: A Compiler

Yes. Programming languages add abstractions to the machine code to make it easier for humans to write and read it. Higher level languages have more abstractions so you could see it as more layers from machine code. For example: Diagram In this image you can see the layers between the hardware and the high level language. So yes all languages share a common pathway eventually but the difference is in efficiency and amount of abstractions.


If you want to learn more on the topic I advise these resources:
Book: Engineering: A Compiler - Intermediate difficulty
Course: Nand to Tetris This course teaches u how to build a computer from scratch. Including writing your own basic OS and Compiler for code. It's a really cool course if want to learn about the low-level workings of a computer.

I also like Engineering a Compiler

Cooper's Engineering a Compiler is quite good. I'll also second the recommendation for Appel's books.

Why would I pick that book over Engineering a Compiler, Second Edition?

I was recently pointed to Engineering a Compiler (Cooper and Torczon) by some other Redditor, and so far it seems to be quite good.

The dragon book is a bit dated. I would recommend Engineering a Compiler (Cooper). Though I have heard good things about Modern Compiler Design (Grune).

Stanford's open course on compilers is available on youtube but I can't offer a critique. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm0QQO-WZlM&list=PLFB9EC7B8FE963EB8

This is the book that was used in my college compilers course. I found it to be one of the more readable CS books.

I've heard pretty bad reviews on the dragon book and have heard very good reviews on this but I have read neither.

The resources that really helped me learning compilers are the ones listed here (especially cs4410 and cs75!) and the programming langauges series on coursera.

The value of Ghuloum's approach to compilers is that you get to build one incrementally. So don't be afraid to get your hands dirty straight away as it will work you through the subject slowly.

Also, regrading Might's list, while the list is good some of the learning resources might be outdated or not very good. If something interests you it's better to look for a relevant community which usually has recommendations for better resources.

If you want to learn the subject formally, maybe try any textbook on computational theory. My university used this one https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introduction_to_the_Theory_of_Computation, but there's also Tom Stuart's excellent text http://computationbook.com/.

But if you're only interested in lexing/parsing (and not the stuff beyond that), then you'd want a book on compiler construction and just read the first part. This book https://www.amazon.com/Engineering-Compiler-Keith-Cooper/dp/012088478X shows you how to construct the parser entirely by hand, while this one https://www.cs.princeton.edu/~appel/modern/ shows you how to use Lex and Yacc. If you just want to use lex & yacc instead of writing your own parser (which I highly recommend) you can use this book http://shop.oreilly.com/product/9781565920002.do instead.

Book preferences are subjective; it depends on what you know and your learning style. That said: Engineering a Compiler is quite good. But there are also many nice tutorial around, e.g. https://ruslanspivak.com/lsbasi-part1/.

Further notes, here's some of the books I've been looking at:

Modern Compiler Implementation (there's Java, C, and ML editions; this is C)

https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Compiler-Implementation-Andrew-Appel/dp/052158390X

Design Concepts in Programming Languages

https://www.amazon.com/Design-Concepts-Programming-Languages-Press/dp/0262201755

Engineering A Compiler

https://www.amazon.com/Engineering-Compiler-Keith-Cooper/dp/012088478X

Programming Language Pragmatics

https://www.amazon.com/Programming-Language-Pragmatics-Michael-Scott/dp/0124104096

Thanks a lot for your reply /u/combinatorylogic, awesome materials list, I have heard about some of them but never read nor studied them before, it looks like now is a very good time.

My primary studying material is the Compilers Theory course, given by Stanford: https://www.coursera.org/course/compilers

In addition to reading two books:

1. Engineering a Compiler, by K. Cooper & L. Torczon, 2nd Ed.: https://www.amazon.com/dp/012088478X
   
   
2. Basics of Compiler Design, by T. Mogensen: http://www.diku.dk/~torbenm/Basics/basics_lulu2.pdf
   
   Do you think these materials are good for a start? I am planning to delve deeper into the topics of Compiler and Interpreter Construction.
   
   EDIT: formatting.