本书将带领读者从头开始制作一门语言的编译器。笔者特意为本书设计了CЬ语言，CЬ可以说是C语言的子集，实现了包括指针运算等在内的C语言的主要部分。本书所实现的编译器就是C Ь语言的编译器， 是实实在在的编译器，而非有诸多限制的玩具。另外，除编译器之外，本书对以编译器为中心的编程语言的运行环境，即编译器、汇编器、链接器、硬件、运行时环境等都有所提及，介绍了程序运行的所有环节。

This textbook offers a deep understanding of the essential concepts of programming languages. The approach is analytic and hands-on. The text uses interpreters, written in Scheme, to express the semantics of many essential language elements in a way that is both clear and directly executable. It also examines some important program analyses. Extensive exercises explore many design and implementation alternatives.