Ashcroft, Edward A. and Wadge, William W. (1979) R for semantics. University of Warwick. Department of Computer Science. (Theory of Computation Report). (Unpublished)

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Abstract

We would like in this note to offer a constructive criticism of current work in the semantics of programming languages, a criticism directed not so much at the techniques and results obtained as at the use to which they are put. The basic problem, in our view, is that denotational (or "mathematical") semantics plays on the whole a passive (we call it "descriptive") role, while operational semantics plays on the whole an active (we call it "prescriptive") role. Our suggestion is that these roles be reversed.

Item Type:	Report
Subjects:	Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA76 Electronic computers. Computer science. Computer software
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Computer Science
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Programming languages (Electronic computers) -- Semantics
Series Name:	Theory of Computation Report
Publisher:	University of Warwick. Department of Computer Science
Official Date:	December 1979
Dates:	Date Event December 1979 ["eprint_fieldopt_dates_date_type_available" not defined]
Number:	Number 30
Number of Pages:	24
Identification Number:	CS-RR-030
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Department of Computer Science
Status:	Not Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Unpublished
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/46324

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