A Hierarchical Approach to Formal Semantics With Application to the Definition of PL/ CS

We describe a means of presenting hierarchically organized formal definitions of programming languages using the denotational approach of D. Scott and C. Strachey. As an example of our approach, we give the semantics of PL/CS, an instructional variant of PL/I. We also discuss the implications of thi...

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Veröffentlicht in:	ACM transactions on programming languages and systems 1979-01, Vol.1 (1), p.98-114
Hauptverfasser:	Constable, Robert L., Donahue, James E.
Format:	Artikel
Sprache:	eng
Schlagworte:	General programming languages Language types Program semantics Semantics and reasoning Software and its engineering Software notations and tools Theory of computation
Online-Zugang:	Volltext
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Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:	We describe a means of presenting hierarchically organized formal definitions of programming languages using the denotational approach of D. Scott and C. Strachey. As an example of our approach, we give the semantics of PL/CS, an instructional variant of PL/I. We also discuss the implications of this approach to language design, pointing out some cases where the wrong choices may cause the hierarchy to collapse into chaotic rubble.
ISSN:	0164-0925 1558-4593
DOI:	10.1145/357062.357069