Sure you can understand the basics of a compiler from a college course on them. But what sets apart industrial level compilers is all the accumulated knowledge built into them. Students are expected to understand the whole compiler they build for class. But how many people understand every single optimization that GCC can do?
My point is, there's understanding how compilers work, and then there's understanding all of GCC. I wouldn't like it if someone made the former sound too intimidating for me, but I don't mind feeling intimidated by the latter.
My point is, there's understanding how compilers work, and then there's understanding all of GCC. I wouldn't like it if someone made the former sound too intimidating for me, but I don't mind feeling intimidated by the latter.