Notes on the text,

Andrew W. Appel: 
Modern Compiler Implementation in Java (MCIJ)

initially written for use by Lisp fans in CS164, Fall, 2002.
revised for used by Lisp fans in CS164, Fall, 2005, and for
the second edition (using MiniJava),  MCIJ2e.

by  Richard Fateman  

Preface

These are notes made while studying MCIJ, and revised for MCIJ2e.
These notes are not intended to be read in isolation from MCIJ.
They can be read along with the text, or afterward.

Usually you should read the text first, because after all we should
give the author the first chance to get his ideas across to the
reader. If he has done his job therefore you should be able to read
and get the basic ideas.  

If you are puzzled by some item, refer to these notes, to see if I've
tried to clarify that item. You may also look at my notes for warnings
and corrections before reading the text, but realize that I don't have an
obligation in these comments to be complete, and that reading these
notes first may be puzzling.

When you finish reading a section, you should certainly look at the
corresponding section of these notes, then perhaps look back at the
chapter.