Compiler Design Begins!

Day 40 went pretty well. Office work was smooth, I managed to complete two Compiler Design lectures, prepared notes for both, met my girlfriend on the way home, reviewed my October study schedule, and even spent some time researching how to start a YouTube channel for my singing.

Not every day of GATE preparation has to be a dramatic battle against procrastination. Sometimes, things simply go according to plan. And after several hectic study days, a smoother day feels good.

A Smooth Day at the Office

Work was relatively light today, and everything went smoothly at the office. Since there wasn't much work to handle, I used some of that time for my GATE preparation.

I completed one Compiler Design lecture at the office itself. Later, while commuting home, I completed another lecture.

This worked out well because I had planned to start Compiler Design with two lectures on Friday. Instead of waiting until I reached home to begin studying, I managed to use the time already available to me.

With a full-time job, finding uninterrupted study time can sometimes be difficult. So, whenever the workload is manageable, using that opportunity for preparation helps.

Of course, I cannot expect every office day to be this smooth. But today, things worked in my favour.

My First Impression of Compiler Design

Compiler Design was the subject I had been thinking about before starting it.

I have never studied this subject during either my bachelor's degree or my master's degree. That made it feel like a new challenge in my GATE CSE 2027 preparation.

I had decided not to rush into it immediately. My plan was to start slowly, complete the introductory lecture and one more lecture, and then see how the subject felt.

Now that I have completed the first two lectures, my honest impression is that Compiler Design seems surprisingly simple and easy.

I genuinely felt that way while watching them.

However, I am not sure whether the subject itself will continue to feel this easy or whether it is simply because these were introductory lectures. I have only just started, so it would be too early to draw a conclusion.

For now, I am taking it as a positive first impression rather than declaring the entire subject easy after two lectures.

Let's see what happens when I get deeper into it.

Notes Still Come Last

Although I completed the lectures during office hours and while commuting, my work for the day was not finished.

I usually prepare my notes around 10–11 PM. It is generally the last task I do before ending my day.

Today was no different. After coming home, I prepared notes for both Compiler Design lectures.

I prefer having notes ready because I will need them during revision. Watching lectures alone is not enough, especially when I have to revisit multiple subjects in the coming months.

The only thing is that note-making happens quite late. Even if the lectures are completed earlier, I still have this final task waiting for me at night.

It has become a regular part of my preparation routine.

A Little Personal Time, Too

While returning home from the office, I also met my girlfriend.

Not everything about my day revolves around lectures, notes, and the October deadline, and I want to keep that part of my life in this journey as well.

Preparing for GATE alongside a corporate job means managing several things within the same day. There is work, studying, personal time, and the ordinary stuff that happens in between.

Today, I managed to make progress on my preparation while also making time for my personal life.

That felt good.

Reviewing My October Schedule

I also went through my October schedule to check where I stand and whether my remaining targets are still achievable.

My deadline is October 31. I want to finish the remaining syllabus and clear the pending backlog by the end of the month so that November can begin with a greater focus on revision and question practice.

After reviewing the schedule, I still feel that I can pull it off.

My bigger goal is to make October a month in which I didn't just start four subjects but actually completed them.

The four subjects are:

• Computer Organisation and Architecture (COA)
• Compiler Design (CD)
• Database Management Systems (DBMS)
• Theory of Computation (TOC)

COA and TOC are already completed. Compiler Design has now started, while DBMS still has pending Query Language lectures.

So, the goal is not completely achieved yet. There is still work to do before October ends.

But looking at the progress so far, I believe it remains achievable.

I want to finish the syllabus within this deadline because I need November, December, and January for revision, GATE PYQs, and mock tests. Those three months will be important, particularly because completing the syllabus does not automatically mean I can solve every question confidently.

I still need to strengthen my understanding, practise different question patterns, and identify the topics that require more attention.

An Unexpected Side Quest: A Singing YouTube Channel

Apart from GATE preparation, I also spent some time researching how to start a YouTube channel focused on my singing.

This is something I want to explore outside my exam preparation.

It was nice to spend some time thinking about a creative project rather than concentrating exclusively on academic work. GATE remains a major priority, but I also have interests that I would like to pursue.

I am still in the research stage, so there is no channel launch or major development to report yet. For now, I am simply exploring what it would take to get started.

Let's see where this idea goes.

Day 40: A Good Start to Compiler Design

By the end of Friday, I had completed two Compiler Design lectures and prepared notes for both. My first impression of the subject is positive, although I know that the more challenging concepts may still be ahead.

The office day went smoothly, I met my girlfriend, reviewed my October schedule, and explored the idea of starting a singing YouTube channel.

It was a productive day without being entirely consumed by GATE preparation.

My immediate priority remains the October 31 deadline. I want to complete Compiler Design and clear the remaining DBMS Query Language backlog so that I can move into the revision phase with fewer unfinished topics.

For now, Compiler Design has started on a good note.

Day 40 complete. Two Compiler Design lectures done, notes prepared, and the October target still feels achievable.