Red Dragon Book

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

The first edition of Compilers: Principles, Techniques, and Tools (1986), a notable textbook about compiler construction.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English
Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “Red Dragon Book” mean?

The first edition of Compilers: Principles, Techniques, and Tools (1986), a notable textbook about compiler construction.

Is “Red Dragon Book” formal or informal?

Red Dragon Book is generally slang.