COMP36411: Understanding Programming Languages (2012-2013)

This is an archived syllabus from 2012-2013

View 2018-2019 syllabus.

Understanding Programming Languages

Level: 3
Credit rating: 10
Pre-requisites: COMP11120 or equivalent
Co-requisites: No Co-requisites
Duration: 11 weeks.
Lectures: 22
Course Leader: Dave Lester
Course leader: Dave Lester

Additional staff: view all staff

Timetable

Semester	Event	Location	Day	Time	Group
Sem 1	Lecture	1.4	Thu	09:00 - 10:00	-
Sem 1	Lecture	1.4	Tue	13:00 - 14:00	-

Assessment Breakdown

Exam: 100%
Coursework: 0%
Lab: 0%

Themes to which this unit belongs

Computer Languages

Aims

Students taking this module should gain a deeper understanding of some of the standard programming language constructs and of the overall structure of a programming language and should develop an appreciation of the role of formal semantics in the design and precise definition of a programming language.

Programme outcome	Unit learning outcomes	Assessment
A1 B1 D6	Be able to specify a simple imperative programming language using natural, structural operational, denotational, continuation, and axiomatic semantics.	Examination
A1 B1 D6	Be able to show how two different specifications are related.	Examination
A1 B1 D6	Be able to extend the specification of a simple imperative programming language to more complex constructions.	Examination

Syllabus

Introduction

Syntax and Semantics. BNF and abstract syntax; the meaning of expressions; approaches to semantics - operational/denotational/axiomatic.

Natural Semantics

Natural semantics for while; non-determinism; parallelism. Structural Operational Semantics: Structural operational semantics for while; non-determinism; parallelism. Equivalence.

Compilation

Compiling to abstract machine code; executing abstract machine code; equivalence.

Denotational Semantics

Direct-style semantics; fixpoints; equivalence; continuation semantics.

Axiomatic Semantics

Direct use of Natural, Structural Operational and Denotational Semantics for Correctness. Assertions and inference. Soundness and completeness.