Open AccessComposing Programming Languages by Combining Action-Semantics Modules
Author(s) -
Kyung-Goo Doh,
Peter D. Mosses
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
brics report series
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1601-5355
pISSN - 0909-0878
DOI - 10.7146/brics.v10i53.21825
Subject(s) - programming language , computer science , semantics (computer science) , modular design , action (physics) , action semantics , operational semantics , denotational semantics , physics , quantum mechanics
This article demonstrates a method for composing a programming language by combining action-semantics modules. Each module is defined separately, and then a programming-language module is defined by combining existing modules. This method enables the language designer to gradually develop a language by defining, selecting and combining suitable modules. The resulting modular structure is substantially different from that previously employed in action-semantic descriptions. It also discusses how to resolve the conflicts that may arise when combining modules, and indicates some advantages that action semantics has over other approaches in this respect.