Learn Prolog Now!

by Patrick Blackburn, Johan Bos, Kristina Striegnitz

Prolog is a programming language, but a rather unusual one. ``Prolog'' is short for ``Programming with Logic'', and the link with logic gives Prolog its special character. At the heart of Prolog lies a surprising don't tell the computer what to do. Instead, describe situations of interest, and compute by asking questions. Prolog will logically deduce new facts about the situations and give its deductions back to us as answers. Why learn Prolog? For a start, its ``say what the problem is, rather than how to solve it'' stance, means that it is a very high level language, good for knowledge rich applications such as artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and the semantic web. So by studying Prolog, you gain insight into how sophisticated tasks can be handled computationally. Moreover, Prolog requires a different mindset. You have to learn to see problems from a new perspective, declaratively rather than procedurally. Acquiring this mindset, and learning to appreciate the links between logic and programming, makes the study of Prolog both challenging and rewarding. Learn Prolog Now! is a practical introduction to this fascinating language. Freely available as a web-book since 2002 (see www.learnprolognow.org) Learn Prolog Now! has became one of the most popular introductions to the Prolog programming language, an introduction prized for its clarity and down-to-earth approach. It is widely used as a textbook at university departments around the world, and even more widely used for self study. College Publications is proud to present here the first hard-copy version of this online classic. Carefully revised in the light of reader's feedback, and now with answers to all the exercises, here you will find the essential material required to help you learn Prolog now.

Genres: Programming, Computer Science, Computers

284 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 2006

Reviews

[Moaaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is amazing

[Wendelle]

whittles down the basic rules into one self-contained book, which is no small feat

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delivers on its promise, no more, no less.

[Marshall · Rating 2 out of 5]

A mediocre book on the Prolog programming language. This book did not help me much, and the authors have an unhealthy obsession with definite clause grammars. It felt like half the book was devoted to it. I guess it's important if you're doing computational linguistics, which is a popular niche for this language. Still, everything I read about Prolog seems to assume that's all it's good for. There is a much cooler language hidden in there, behind the academics. I do have to give this book credit for one thing though: I finally understand cuts now. Everything else I read about it did a lousy job of explaining it.

[Dmitry Kolomiets · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction into bizarre world of Prolog programming. This book forced me to wrap my brain around new concepts and at the same time it is relatively easy to follow. The most important thing to remember - you have to make exercises! It is crucial to achieve better understanding of seemingly simple ideas that Prolog provides.

I'm especially fond of "Aha!" moments that feel like you open one more hidden door inside your brain - it turned out that there are a lot of great stuff behind this door :)

[Stefanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very helpful, great introduction. Now need more. It also helps to listen to Dr. Sunderraman who has an amazing ability to make Spock fascinating.