JUCS - Journal of Universal Computer Science 3(5): 416-442, doi: 10.3217/jucs-003-05-0416
Montages Specifications of Realistic Programming Languages
expand article infoPhilipp W. Kutter, Alfonso Pierantonio§
‡ Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule, Switzerland§ Università di L'Aquila, Italy
Open Access
Abstract
Montages are a new way of describing all aspects of programming languages formally. Such specifications are intelligible for a broad range of people involved in programming language design and use. In order to enhance readability we combine visual and textual elements to yield specifications similar in structure, length, and complexity to those in common language manuals, but with a formal semantics. The formal semantics is based on Gurevich's Abstract State Machines (formerly called Evolving Algebras).
Keywords
abstract state machines, language design, Montages, programming languages specifications, visual formalisms, modular specifications