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IDL: A machine‐independent data language
Author(s) -
Atkinsonidl M. P.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
software: practice and experience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1097-024X
pISSN - 0038-0644
DOI - 10.1002/spe.4380070603
Subject(s) - computer science , machine translation , intermediate language , translation (biology) , representation (politics) , programming language , transfer (computing) , data manipulation language , low level programming language , natural language processing , artificial intelligence , parallel computing , compiler , programming paradigm , inductive programming , biochemistry , chemistry , programming domain , messenger rna , politics , political science , law , gene
A Low‐level data language, IDL, is presented as a machine‐independent medium for representing data structures. It is used to transfer structures generated by SLP, a compact list processing language, across the boundaries imposed by differing machines, operating systems and languages. Translation overheads are minimized and use of the language reduces data and machine dependence in programs. Translation algorithms and their performance statistics are presented. The use of the representation for the formation and manipulation of libraries of data structures in demonstrated.