CS 422

Exploration of major language design paradigms using imperative and functional programming as unifying themes. Tools include both practical language processor construction and theoretical models. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 3 or 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: CS 421.

Learn and apply a novel programming language design framework to define a series of languages covering all major paradigms (1), (2)
Design SIMPLE, a C-like imperative programming language with recursive functions, multi-dimensional, arrays, dynamic threads. (1), (2), (6)
Design KOOL, a Java-like object-oriented programming language with dynamic method dispatch, subtype polymorphism, exceptions, threads. (1), (2), (6)
Design FUN, an ML-like functional programming language with higher-order functions, lists, let and letrec binders, parametric polymorphism, callcc. Learn and apply substitution. (1), (2), (6)
Design a parametric polymorphic type system for FUN, which extends the classic Damas-Milner-Clement type system. (1), (2)
Design LOGIK, a Prolog-like logic programming language. Learn and apply unification. (1), (2), (6)

Basic PL semantic approaches
K PL Design Framework
Imperative Programming
Object-Oriented Programming
Functional Programming
Logic Programming
Concurrency Concepts in Languages
Exceptions
Types and Polymorphism
Unification

Revisions in last 6 years	Approximately when revision was done	Reason for revision	Data or documentation available?	Documentation provided?
Provided Maude library for K technique, used to define languages	fall 2007	Too much low-level and PL-irrelevant work for students to use plain Maude	informal discussions and comments in library	commented library
Switched to K-Maude tool (Maude extension); time saved used to cover new topic: Damas-Milner-Clement type inferencer)	fall 2010	Students spent too much time learning how to use Maude, instead of on defining languages.	Examples of languages defined in K-Maude	commented examples
Switched to the K tool for defining languages. Students see no Maude anymore. K is designed specifically for defining programming languages, and is used in several places to teach languages and in research on PL.	fall 2011	K is specifically designed as a framework for programming language design. Little to no time is spent on learning the framework. Gave me more time to discuss PL topics in more depth.	Lots of examples come with the K tool distribution.	Yes, plenty of examples of documented K language definitions.
Included logic programming as studied topic, and LOGIK as logic programming language defined in class.	fall 2012

Selected Elective.

3/15/2019by Grigore Rosu