English / Japanese

L0930300

Principles of Programming Languages

College

College of Engineering

Department

Department of Information Science and Engineering

Year

2nd grade

Semester

Fall Semester

Credit

2

sasano isaoClick to show questionnaire result at 2015

Course description

Computers run according to programs, which are described in programming languages. Programming languages are defined by giving their syntax and semantics. We illustrate how to give the semantics of programs (the results of executing the programs) by showing operational semantics and axiomatic semantics to tiny languages. In general, semantics of programs are not known (to computers) without executing the programs. Types, which are part of semantics of programs, are known to computers without executing programs in statically-typed languages, in which types are analyzed in compile time (before executing the programs). A set of rules concerning types in a statically-typed language is called a type system and we give a type system for a tiny subset of the C language. As the classification of programming languages by their computational models we illustrate imperative, functional, logic, and object-oriented languages. We also present major concepts of programming languages such as the scope rules of variables and the mechanisms of parameter passing.

Purpose of class

A programming language is a system for describing computations. Each language abstracts computations from various viewpoints and provides ways for describing compuations. For example, languages typically provide variables, functions, and types. The way a language abstracts compuations has a profound effect on programming in the language. We learn typical abstractions provided by languages being used now so that we can select an appropriate language by taking into account such abstractions. We also learn major concepts of programming languages such as the scope rules of variables and the mechanisms of parameter passing so that we know the differences of such concepts among lanugages. Semantics form a basis for analyzing or verifying programs. We learn semantics so that we have means for precisely specifying behaviors of programs.

Goals and objectives

1.Understanding the formal description of the semantics of programming languages and being able to describe semantics of short programs in tiny languages based on axiomatic and operational semantics
2.Understanding the scope rules (static and dynamic) of variables and being able to explain how the meaning of programs changes according to the scope rules
3.Understanding the mechanisms of parameter passing and being able to explain how the meaning of programs changes according to the mechanisms
4.Being able to explain the classification of programming languages based on their computational models
5.Being able to check whether or not simple programs in tiny C language have the type consistency according to the given simple type system

Language

Japanese(English accepted)

Class schedule


Class scheduleHW assignments (Including preparation and review of the class.)
1.Classification of programming languages and a simple example of programming languages Section 8.1 of the reference book
2.Imperative languages (1)
- Assignments
- Structured programming
- Control flow 		Section 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 of the reference book
3.Imperative languages (2)
- Break statements, continue statements, goto statements, and return statements 		Section 3.4 of the reference book
4.Imperative languages (3)
- Compilation of sentences
- Short-circuit evaluation
- Assertions 		p. 109 and p. 87 of the reference book
5.Imperative languages (4)
- Hoare triple
- Hoare logic 		Section 3.6 of the reference book
6.Imperative language (5) and a small examination
- Procedures
- Parameter-passing mechanisms
- Scope rules of variables 		Section 5.2 and 5.3 of the reference book
7.Operational semantics (1)
- An operational semantics for a tiny C language
- Definition of the meaning of expressions
- Definition of the meaning of sentences 		Section 13.3 of the reference book provides an operational semantics, although it is for a functional language. This lecture provides one for an imperative language, but the basic ideas are similar. Since imperative languages support assignments, we have to care about the states, which the reference book does not provide the explanation for. Each student is recommended to try to consider how to define an operational semantics for an imperative language.
8.Mid-term examination and explanation of the answers
- Paper-and-pencil test for checking the understanding of the contents of the lectures from the first to the seventh 		Review the contents of all the lectures until the last one
9.Type system
- Variable declarations in the C language
- A type system for a tiny C language 		Review variable declarations of the C language
10.Lambda calculus
- Syntax of the lambda expressions
- Beta transformation 		Chapter 14 of the reference book
11.Object-oriented languages (1)
- Classes 		Chapter 6 of the reference book
12.Object-oriented languages (2)
- Inheritance
- Virtual functions 		Chapter 7 of the reference book
13.Logic programming Chapter 11 of the reference book
14.Functional programming and a small examination Chapter 8 and 9 of the reference book
15.Final examination and explanation of the answers
- Paper-and-pencil test for checking the understanding of the contents of the lectures from the first to the fourteenth 		Review the contents of all lectures

Evaluation method and criteria

Mid-term exam is evaluated on a 40-point scale, final exam a 50-point, and small exams a 10-point. When the mid-term exam is M point, the final exam F point, and the small exams S point, the overall score is S+M+F*(100-(S+M))/50.

Textbooks and reference materials

We make materials public on a web page.
A reference book is:
- Programming languages concepts & constructs 2nd edition, Ravi Sethi, Addison-Wesley, 1996.
This class is largely based on this book. Currently it takes time to purchase this book.
A recommended book is:
- Concepts in programming languages, John C. Mitchell, Cambridge University Press, 2001.

Prerequisites

Introduction to computer science and introduction to programming 1 and 2.

Office hours and How to contact professors for questions

・Before and after each lecture or any time agreed on by email

Relation to the environment

Non-environment-related course

Regionally-oriented

Non-regionally-oriented course

Development of social and professional independence

・Course that cultivates a basic problem-solving skills

Active-learning course

More than one class is interactive
Last modified : Sat Jul 16 07:01:04 JST 2016