Pre-parsed Headers Compilation Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Compilers spend significant time reprocessing header files multiple times during compilation, leading to inefficiencies due to the lack of effective methods to reuse previously processed information.
Innovation Solution
A method for pre-parsing header files into tokenized form and abstract syntax trees, serializing them for storage, and using pre-parsed headers during subsequent compilations to avoid redundant processing, with features like directive-based localization and change detection for updating pre-parsed headers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the compiler processes header files in their entirety for each reference, then the compilation is complete and correct, but the compilation time increases significantly due to reprocessing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-parsing header files into abstract syntax trees and serializing them before actual compilation. The front-end processing (scanning, tokenizing, parsing) is performed in advance and the results are stored. During compilation, the compiler can directly use these pre-computed parse trees without reprocessing the header file text, thus eliminating redundant work while maintaining correctness through verification mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates copies of the parsed header information in the form of serialized abstract syntax trees. Instead of re-reading and re-parsing the original header files during compilation, the system uses these pre-created copies which contain the essential semantic information. This copying approach allows multiple source files to share the same parsed header representation without redundant processing.
2Reliability
If the compiler reprocesses header files for each source file reference, then all dependencies are correctly resolved, but the processing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the front-end processing steps (scanning, tokenizing, parsing) from the main compilation loop. By separating these operations and performing them preliminarily on header files, the system removes the redundant processing burden from the compilation of each source file. The extracted parse trees are stored and reused, allowing the compiler to focus on source-specific processing while maintaining correct dependency resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs dependency analysis and parsing in advance before the actual compilation phase. The system pre-computes the abstract syntax trees for all header files and stores them in a cache. During compilation, it efficiently retrieves these pre-computed structures rather than re-resolving dependencies and re-parsing, thus maintaining correctness while dramatically improving compilation efficiency.
3Productivity
If the compiler stores pre-parsed header information, then compilation speed improves, but the system complexity increases due to caching and serialization requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component - the serialization module - that acts as a mediator between the parser and the storage system. This intermediary handles the conversion of abstract syntax trees into a storable serialized format and manages the caching mechanism. By isolating the complexity of serialization and cache management in this dedicated intermediary component, the rest of the compilation system remains relatively simple while still achieving fast compilation through pre-stored parse trees.
4Loss of time
If the compiler caches header file parse trees, then redundant processing is eliminated, but memory and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates compact copies of the essential parsed information (abstract syntax trees) in a serialized format suitable for storage. Rather than storing the entire header file text along with parse information, it stores only the essential semantic structure in an optimized format. This copying approach eliminates redundant processing while minimizing the storage overhead by storing only the necessary parsed data structures.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for creating and using pre-parsed headers (222, 308, 410, 412, 414). One or more header files (116, 216, 304, 404, 408) may be scanned into tokens (216b). These tokens may then be parsed into abstract syntax trees (216b). The abstract syntax trees may then be serialized in a modular form into pre-parsed headers on a storage device (802). Based upon directives (114a, 214a) in one or more source files (114, 214, 302, 306), the pre-parsed headers (222, 308, 410, 412, 414) may then be deserialized into abstract syntax trees and loaded from the storage device. The loaded abstract syntax trees may then be used in the compilation of the source files.