Implement compiler for custom language
Overview
This question evaluates compiler and interpreter design skills, object-oriented architecture for language tooling, language semantics, and systematic testing/debugging of runtime implementations.
Jane Street
Aug 4, 2025, 10:55 AM
Machine Learning Engineer
Technical Screen
System Design
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Design and implement a simple compiler/interpreter
Goal
Design and implement a small compiler/interpreter for a bespoke toy language in your preferred programming language. Explain:
- Your object-oriented design (key classes and their responsibilities).
- The compilation pipeline (from source to execution and/or code generation).
- How you would systematically detect and fix bugs.
Assumptions and scope (you may adapt as needed)
- Target language: a small, expression-oriented language (call it MiniLang) with integers, booleans, variables, arithmetic, comparisons, if/else, while, let bindings, functions, and print.
- Implementation language: your choice (example below uses Python, but any OO language is fine).
MiniLang sketch
- Types: int, bool.
- Statements: let, assignment, print, if/else, while, block, function def, return.
- Expressions: literals, variables, unary (!, -), binary (+, -, *, /, <, >, ==, &&, ||), call.
- Example: let x = 2 + 3 * 4; if (x > 10) { print(x); } else { print(0); }
Deliverables
- A short description of your OO architecture.
- The compilation pipeline with key phases and invariants.
- Minimal code skeletons or pseudocode for lexer, parser, AST, and interpreter or bytecode VM.
- Testing and debugging strategy.
Solution
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