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Comment by ks2048

3 months ago

It looks like this is the following book, if you want to read a two paragraph description (also a google search you lead you to a full-book PDF):

https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Formal-Syntax-Semantics-Programm...

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ks2048

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froh  3 months ago

Slonneger, Kenneth, and Kurtz, Barry L.. Formal syntax and semantics of programming languages : a laboratory based approach. United Kingdom, Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1995.

as the Amazon app wants to switch country and closes if I don't. (party pooper).

from the Preface:

Laboratory Activities

Chapter 2: Scanning and parsing Wren

Chapter 3: Context checking Wren using an attribute grammar

Chapter 4: Context checking Hollerith literals using a two-level grammar

Chapter 5: Evaluating the lambda calculus using its reduction rules

Chapter 6: Self-definition of Scheme (Lisp) Self-definition of Prolog

Chapter 7: Translating (compiling) Wren programs following an attribute grammar

Chapter 8: Interpreting the lambda calculus using the SECD machine Interpreting Wren according to a definition using structural operational semantics

Chapter 9: Interpreting Wren following a denotational specification

Chapter 10: Evaluating a lambda calculus that includes recursive defini- tions

Chapter 12: Interpreting Wren according to an algebraic specification of the language

Chapter 13: Translating Pelican programs into action notation following a specification in action semantics.

  • rramadass  3 months ago

    Far more details can be found at author's old-school webpage (see Preface and Table of Contents without pdf) - https://homepage.cs.uiowa.edu/~slonnegr/

    I had recommended this book earlier on HN and elsewhere. It uses Prolog as the meta language for language design. With Prolog finding new domains of usage with LLMs this makes it a good approach to learn both Prolog and language design.

    Since it is out of print, snap up any and all used copies available ;-)

    • iainctduncan  3 months ago

      Thanks for the tip, I just did!

      I don't know what it is, but it seems form my slowly blooming collection like the standard of writing in PLT books from that era was just really, really high.

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