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Formatted syntaxes and modula‐2
Author(s) -
Woodman Mark
Publication year - 1986
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.4380160702
Subject(s) - programming language , computer science , syntax , disk formatting , notation , symbol (formal) , abstract syntax , relevance (law) , syntax error , natural language processing , linguistics , philosophy , political science , law , operating system
The formatted syntax notation has been developed for the specification of formatted programming languages. This paper describes how a formatted syntax may be constructed for the purpose of prettyprinting an existing free‐format language. Those aspects of the system of particular relevance to free‐format languages are emphasized and their use explained. Also, a number of deficiencies in the defining metasyntax and formatting symbol repertoire are discussed. Practical enhancements and further areas of research are suggested. The programming language Modula‐2 is used for illustration, and a formatted syntax for it is given.