from
Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003)
Dragon Book
n.
The classic text Compilers: Principles, Techniques and Tools, by
Alfred V. Aho, Ravi Sethi, and Jeffrey D. Ullman (Addison-Wesley 1986;
ISBN 0-201-10088-6), so called because of the cover design featuring a
dragon labeled `complexity of compiler design' and a knight bearing
the lance `LALR parser generator' among his other trappings. This one
is more specifically known as the `Red Dragon Book' (1986); an earlier
edition, sans Sethi and titled Principles Of Compiler Design (Alfred
V. Aho and Jeffrey D. Ullman; Addison-Wesley, 1977; ISBN
0-201-00022-9), was the ``reen Dragon Book' (1977). (Also New Dragon
Book, Old Dragon Book.) The horsed knight and the Green Dragon were
warily eying each other at a distance; now the knight is typing
(wearing gauntlets!) at a terminal showing a video-game representation
of the Red Dragon's head while the rest of the beast extends back in
normal space. See also {book titles}.
from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
Dragon Book
<publication> The classic text "Compilers: Principles,
Techniques and Tools", by Alfred V. Aho, Ravi Sethi, and
Jeffrey D. Ullman (Addison-Wesley 1986; ISBN 0-201-10088-6).
So called because of the cover design featuring a dragon
labelled "complexity of compiler design" and a knight bearing
the lance "LALR parser generator" among his other trappings.
This one is more specifically known as the "Red Dragon Book"
(1986); an earlier edition, sans Sethi and titled "Principles
Of Compiler Design" (Alfred V. Aho and Jeffrey D. Ullman;
Addison-Wesley, 1977; ISBN 0-201-00022-9), was the "Green
Dragon Book" (1977). (Also "New Dragon Book", "Old Dragon
Book".) The horsed knight and the Green Dragon were warily
eying each other at a distance; now the knight is typing
(wearing gauntlets!) at a terminal showing a video-game
representation of the Red Dragon's head while the rest of the
beast extends back in normal space.
See also {book titles}.
(1996-12-03)