Re: language design references wanted

I would even go a step further and RECOMMEND designing languages.


Unfortunately I've only vague "references" (perhaps others can help):


I remember an article in ACMs "Computing Surveys" several years ago on
little languages for AI. Also I remember an article in a (Cambridge
University Press?) proceedings of a computer science topic, arguing that
Leibniz' work on the infinitesimal calculus was superior to Newton's
mainly because of better notation! Maybe "van Gasteren, On the Shape of
Mathematical Arguments" (Springer, LNCS 445) could be thought-provoking
too.


I don't know whether it's in the cited paper of C.A.R.Hoare (Hints on...),
but he coined a "2-20-200"-rule: 2 pages should suffice for the syntax
definition of a language, 20 pages for the semantics, and 200 pages for a
(complete and good) book on programming in that language! Or was it
Wirth? However, Hoare's and Wirth's work are _in general_ and ALWAYS
worth reading!


uli
--

Return to the comp.compilers page.
Search the comp.compilers archives again.