CSC301 Homepage

Fundamentals of Programming Languages

Spring 2008

Description:

Language enables thought. In this course we study a class of formal languages known as programming languages. Similar to natural languages, these formal languages enable us to to reason about algorithms and procedures to solve computational problems on computers. However, their formal nature restricts the kind of meanings particular language constructs can assume and therefore makes them amenable for the execution on a computer.

Over the years many different programming language dialects have evolved to address particular technical issues, e.g. object-oriented languages, real-time languages, database query languages, logic languages, etc. Here we study the major structures of modern programming languages. Understanding not only the syntax of a language but also the semantics and implementation techniques of this language will allow you to design better programs. Having deeper insights into the design of a programming language will also enable you to learn new programming languages much faster. Having a thorough understanding of today's languages allows you to design the programming languages of tomorrow.

Objective

Upon completion of this course

You will be able to discern and contrast the major programming language paradigms in use today.
You will be able to pick an appropriate language for the job at hand.
You will have deeper insights into the evolution of programming languages.

Announcements:

>> Final Examination, Tuesday May 6th, Wales Rm 226, 8am-11am, open book/open notes

[4/21/08] Posted homework assignment #7, see Lecture notes
[4/16/08] Here are the Prolog rules for the operational semantics, use these instead of typing them in from scratch:

val1(plus(X,Y),Value) :-
	val1(X,XValue),
	val1(Y,YValue),
	Value is XValue + YValue.

val1(times(X,Y),Value) :-
	val1(X,XValue),
	val1(Y,YValue),
	Value is XValue * YValue.

val1(const(X),X).

[4/14/08] Posted homework assignment #6
[4/7/08] Posted programming assignment #7
[4/2/08] Posted programming assignment #6
[3/31/08] Posted programming assignment #5
[3/26/08] Posted homework assignment #5
[3/10/08] Posted programming assignment #4
[3/5/08] Posted programming assignment #3
[2/29/08] Posted programming assignment #2
[2/26/08] Posted HW4.
[2/23/08] Posted programming assignment #1
[2/17/08] Homework solutions to HW1, HW2, and HW3.
[2/12/08] posted the missing slides
[2/12/08] Quiz #1, Tuesday 2/19, chap 1-4
[2/12/08] posted homework assignment #3
[2/6/08] posted homework assignment #2
[1/30/08] ** NO CLASS Tuesday 2/5 **
[1/1/08] Welcome!

Documents of Interest:

Syllabus
Lecture Notes
Book web page
CSC 301 SML page
CSC301 Prolog page
Unix Tutorial
BNF grammar of the C programming language
The History of Programming Languages (see the diagram!)

NOTE: email submissions are not acceptable for both homework assignments and programming assignments.

Homework Assignments:

Homework #1: 2.1 b, c, g, j - due Thursday 2/7 in class.
Homework #2: 3.1 a; 3.3 b; 3.4 b - due Tuesday 2/12 in class.
Homework #3: 4.4 - due Thursday 2/14 in class.
Homework #4: 6.2; 6.4 d through g - Thursday 2/28 in class.
Homework #5: 18.6 a,b,c - Tuesday 4/1 in class.
Homework #6: due Thursday 4/17 in class.

Programming Assignments:

For each programming assignment you will need to submit your source code and proof that your program runs on sample input, e. g., screen shot, cut and paste the results of the run into a MS Word document etc.). Also, please follow the instructions given in the book for each problem carefully.

Handwritten work will not be accepted as programming assignment.

Programming Assignment #1: 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.7 - due Tuesday 2/26 in class.
Programming Assignment #2: 7.2, 7.6 - due Tuesday 3/4 in class.
Programming Assignment #3: 9.6, 9.26 - due Tuesday 3/11 in class.
Programming Assignment #4: Read Chap 13,15,17; do problem 17.3 - due Thursday 3/27 in class (see class notes for details).
Programming Assignment #5: the necessary facts can be found here - due Thursday 4/3 in class.
Programming Assignment #6: due Tuesday 4/8 in class.
Programming Assignment #7 - due Tuesday 4/15 in class.

Instructor:

Dr. Lutz Hamel
Tyler Hall, Room 251
Office Hours: Tuesday 2-3pm, Thursday 11am-12pm
email: lutz at inductive-reasoning dot com

TA:

TA:
Esmie Jose
Office Hours: Tyler Hall 135, Mon & Wed 1-2pm
phone: 874-5864 email: jesmie@cs.uri.edu