10:10 - 10:50

Level Up: Become a Compiler Engineer (and a Better Programmer)

Have you ever wondered what really happens under the hood of your Scala code? Join me for a practical introduction to compiler engineering through the lens of the Scala compiler. Drawing from my two years of experience participating in the Scala Compiler Spree, I’ll break down the compilation process, demystify common terminology, and share what it’s like to contribute to a complex and evolving codebase.

You’ll learn:

Why compiler engineering can make you a better developer
Compilation phases of the Scala compiler
Key constructs and terminology every contributor should know
How to approach and solve real issues
My personal experiences participating in the Spree
A potential improvement for the Scala compiler

Whether you’re curious about compiler internals or looking to contribute, this talk will give you a roadmap and the motivation to get started.

Jan-Pieter van den Heuvel

Piozum (Self-employed) / DHL Parcel (Freelance)

When I was 15 years old I started my own software company. Eager to learn more, after high school I started with the Computing Science track at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. I earned a Master’s degree in Applied Computing Science with my thesis on improving the scheduling at a public transport company. After that I worked for several start-ups and large corporations as a full-stack developer. Currently I am working as a Freelance Lead Machine Learning Engineer at DHL Parcel in the Netherlands where I turn ideas into successful applications of Machine Learning.

Level Up: Become a Compiler Engineer (and a Better Programmer)

Jan-Pieter van den Heuvel

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