Chapter 1
Most of the information on this and other chapters refers
directly to material in Wilson, L.B. and Clark, R.G.,
Comparative Programming Languages (Third Edition, updated by R.G. Clark),
Addison-Wesley, September 2000, ISBN 0-201-71012-9.
The material is intended to supplement the textbook by providing
further examples and discussion.
It is not self-standing, but assumes that you have a copy of the book to hand.
Supplementary Questions
-
Two aims in the design of a programming language might be:
-
It should allow the programmer to express solutions in as convenient a way as
possible.
-
It should be straightforward to implement on a computer using well-tried soft
ware technology.
In what ways are these aims in conflict? Which consideration, in your opinion,
is the more important?
-
What would be the advantages and disadvantages of using:
- natural language,
- mathematics
as the basis for the design of a programming language?