An Educational Tool for Understanding the Macro Processor Algorithm

As a result of the necessity of having compilers numerous courses on this topic have been created. The focus of this work will be on the innovation introduced in the subject System Software, which deals with the backend part of compilation, i.e., processes related to the translation of the assembly code into binary files. One of the topics covered in this course is related to another facilitation designed for programmers - the concept of macros. Due to the frequent use of this concept in programming, it is very important for students of the course to have a good understanding of this topic, including the operational principles of the algorithm that processes macros. To this end, a new tool has been developed for educational purposes that is intended to demonstrate to students various variants of a macro processor algorithm, which processes macros in the program. This paper will introduce and detail the functionality of this tool, with illustrative demonstrations focusing on the processing of the assembly code for the HYPO machine. An evaluation has been conducted based on the passage rate and average grade. The passage rate has been drastically better in almost every exam period, after adding the macro processor tool, as well as the student average grade. The passage rate for the entire generation has also been massively improved, with the percentage being higher by more than 10 percent.