Skip to main content

Algebraic modelling of imperative languages with pointers

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Formal Methods in Programming and Their Applications

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 735))

Abstract

A modelling technique for an imperative programming language is presented in the paper. The technique is based on the algebraic approach to the data type specification and introduces such basic data types as memory, variable, record, function, and procedure and such basic kinds of expressions as linear and conditional expressions. It is shown that statements are a partial case of expressions, pointers are a partial case of variables, and procedures are a partial case of functions. The technique is illustrated by a simple Pascal program including variables, pointers, and assignment and conditional statements.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. F.L. Bauer, R. Berghammer, M. Broy, W. Dosch, F. Geiselbrechtinger, R. Gnatz, E. Hangel, W. Hesse, B. Krieg-Brückner, A. Laut, T.A. Matzner, B. Möller, F. Nickl, H. Partsch, P. Pepper, K. Samelson, M. Wirsing, H. Wössner. The Munich project CIP. Volume I: The wide spectrum language CIP-L. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, v.183, Berlin: Springer 1985

    Google Scholar 

  2. Broy M. and Wirsing M. Algebraic definition of functional programming languages. RAIRO Inf. Theor., v.17, 1982, No.2, p. 137–162.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Broy M. and Wirsing M. and Pepper P. On the algebraic definition of programming languages. ACM TOPLAS, v.9, 1987, No.1, p.54–99.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Broy M., Facchi C., Grosu R., ea. The Requirement and Design Specification, Language Spectrum, An Informal Introduction, Version 0.3. Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Institut fur Informatik, October 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Burstall R.M., Goguen J.A. Algebras, Theories, and Freeness: An Introduction for Computer Scientists // Proc. Marktoberdorf Summer School on Theoretical Foundations of Programming Methodology, August, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Donahue J.E. Locations considered unnecessary. Acta Informatica, v.8, pp. 221–242 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Glushkov V.M., Tseitlin G. E., Yutshenko E.L. Algebra, Languages, Programming. Kiev, Naukova dumka, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Gougen J.E., Thatcher J.W., and Wagner E. G. An initial algebra approach to the specification, correctness and implementation of abstract data types. Current Trends in Programming Methodology IV: Data Structuring. Pre Cliffs, N.J., 1978, p. 80–144.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Guttag J., Hornung J.J. The algebraic specification of abstract data types. Acta Informatika, 1978, v.10, No.1, pp. 27–52.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Letichevski A.A. Syntax and semantics of formal languages. Kibernetika, 1968, No.4, p. 1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Moeller B. Towards Pointer Algebra. Science of Computer Programming, 1993 (to appear).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Morrison R., Brown A.L., Connor R.C.H., Dearie A. The Napier 88 Reference manual. PPRR--77-89, University of St. Andrews and Glasgow, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Naur P. (Editor). Revised Report on the Algorithmic Language ALGOL 60. Comm. ACM, 1963, v.6, No.1, pp. 1–17.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Schmidt D. A. Denotational semantics. Allyn and Bacon, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Wagner E.G. Categorical Semantics, Or Extending Data types to Include Memory. Recent Trends in Data Type Specification: Informatik Fachberichte, v. 116, 1984, p. 1–21.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Wagner E.G. Semantics of Block Structured Languages with Pointers. Mathematical Foundations of Programming Language Semantics, LNCS, 1987, No 298, p. 57–84.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Watt D.A. Programming Language Concepts and Paradigms. Prentice Hall, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Wirsing M., Pepper P., Partsch H., et.al. On Hierarchies of Abstract Data Types. Acta Informatica, 1983, v.20, p. 1–33.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. V. Zamulin .

Editor information

Dines Bjørner Manfred Broy Igor V. Pottosin

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1993 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Zamulin, A.V. (1993). Algebraic modelling of imperative languages with pointers. In: Bjørner, D., Broy, M., Pottosin, I.V. (eds) Formal Methods in Programming and Their Applications. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 735. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0039702

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0039702

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-57316-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-48056-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics