Programming Languages: Principles and Paradigms (Undergraduate Topics in Computer Science)

Gabbrielli, Maurizio; Martini, Simone

ISBN 10: 1848829132 / ISBN 13: 9781848829138

Published by Springer, 2010

In. Seller Inventory # ria9781848829138_new

Synopsis:

With great pleasure, I accepted the invitation extended to me to write these few lines of Foreword. I accepted for at least two reasons. The ?rst is that the request came to me from two colleagues for whom I have always had the greatest regard, starting from the time when I ?rst knew and appreciated them as students and as young researchers. The second reason is that the text by Gabbrielli and Martini is very near to the book that I would have liked to have written but, for various reasons, never have. In particular,theapproachadoptedinthisbookistheonewhichImyselfhavefollowed when organising the various courses on programming languages I have taught for almost thirty years at different levels under various titles. The approach, summarised in 2 words, is that of introducing the general concepts (either using linguistic mechanisms or the implementation structures corresponding to them) in a manner that is independent of any speci?c language; once this is done, "real languages" are introduced. This is the only approach that allows one to - veal similarities between apparently quite different languages (and also between paradigms). At the same time, it makes the task of learning different languages e- ier. In my experience as a lecturer, ex-students recall the principles learned in the course even after many years; they still appreciate the approach which allowed them to adapt to technological developments without too much dif?culty.

From the Back Cover:

This excellent addition to the UTiCS series of undergraduate textbooks provides a detailed and up to date description of the main principles behind the design and implementation of modern programming languages.

Rather than focusing on a specific language, the book identifies the most important principles shared by large classes of languages. To complete this general approach, detailed descriptions of the main programming paradigms, namely imperative, object-oriented, functional and logic are given, analysed in depth and compared. This provides the basis for a critical understanding of most of the programming languages.

An historical viewpoint is also included, discussing the evolution of programming languages, and to provide a context for most of the constructs in use today. The book concludes with two chapters which introduce basic notions of syntax, semantics and computability, to provide a completely rounded picture of what constitutes a programminglanguage.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Programming Languages: Principles and ...
Publisher: Springer
Publication Date: 2010
Binding: Soft cover
Condition: New