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Principles of Programming Languages: Design, Evaluation, and Implementation
Completely revised and updated, the third edition of Principles of Programming Design, Evaluation, and Implementation teaches key design and implementation skills essential for language designers, compiler writers, and other computer scientists. It also covers descriptive tools and
historical precedents so that students can understand design issues in their historical context. Ideal for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in programming languages and comparative languages, this text uses a unique horizontal organization that analyzes individual languages in their
entirety, facilitating discussion of the interrelationships between the parts of a language. It teaches design skills by emphasizing basic principles more than details, focuses on methods of implementation over specific techniques, and presents concepts inductively. In-depth case studies of
representative languages from five generations of programming language design (Fortran, Algol-60, Pascal, Ada, LISP, Smalltalk, and Prolog) are used to illustrate larger themes.
This third edition adds discussions of the phenomenology of programming languages, the role of conceptual models in language design, language size and complexity, and system implementation languages (with an emphasis on C). It covers programming environments (as illustrated by the Interlisp
system) and recent developments in object-oriented programming (including C++, Ada 95, CLOS, and Java), and expands the discussion of multiple inheritance. Historical information has been updated to reflect new developments in the industry and many new exercises have been added as well.
historical precedents so that students can understand design issues in their historical context. Ideal for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in programming languages and comparative languages, this text uses a unique horizontal organization that analyzes individual languages in their
entirety, facilitating discussion of the interrelationships between the parts of a language. It teaches design skills by emphasizing basic principles more than details, focuses on methods of implementation over specific techniques, and presents concepts inductively. In-depth case studies of
representative languages from five generations of programming language design (Fortran, Algol-60, Pascal, Ada, LISP, Smalltalk, and Prolog) are used to illustrate larger themes.
This third edition adds discussions of the phenomenology of programming languages, the role of conceptual models in language design, language size and complexity, and system implementation languages (with an emphasis on C). It covers programming environments (as illustrated by the Interlisp
system) and recent developments in object-oriented programming (including C++, Ada 95, CLOS, and Java), and expands the discussion of multiple inheritance. Historical information has been updated to reflect new developments in the industry and many new exercises have been added as well.
528 pages, Hardcover
First published June 8, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 28, 2016
This isn't a "how to" book; and, it certainly isn't a "learn XYZ in 21 days" book. It is the best book I've ever read about the design of computer programming languages. The author shows that there are common principles behind the design of various programming languages.
The languages covered are old: a machine-like language, Fortran, Algol, Pascal, ADA, LISP, SmallTalk and Prolog. However, this does not detract from the value of the book. Indeed it adds some interesting historical insight.
Don't go out and get it today, but get it some day...and take your time to read it through. Even if you do not agree with all the principles, you'll find a fascinating author who looks at real examples, draws out the motivations behind specific language-design, and threads them together to formulate broader, more universal principles.
The languages covered are old: a machine-like language, Fortran, Algol, Pascal, ADA, LISP, SmallTalk and Prolog. However, this does not detract from the value of the book. Indeed it adds some interesting historical insight.
Don't go out and get it today, but get it some day...and take your time to read it through. Even if you do not agree with all the principles, you'll find a fascinating author who looks at real examples, draws out the motivations behind specific language-design, and threads them together to formulate broader, more universal principles.
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June 27, 2015good
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews