META-3 syntax-directed compiler writing compiler to generate efficient code
Frederick W. Schneider, Glen D. Johnson · 1964
The basic compilation method is a top to bottom recursive scan without backtrack based on the compiler written for the IBM 1401 by Val Schorre. Each statement of the language is written in a form closely resembling Backus Normal Form; that is, a sequence of tests to be performed to determine whether or not the sequence of characters in the input string is a valid program in the language described. In addition output instructions are interspersed with the syntactic elements to generate the desired code. The following features were added to the language to facilitate the direct generation of efficient machine code: