CPS 343/543: Comparative Languages/Winter 2007

CPS 343/543 (3 sem hrs) is a course in programming language concepts. The approach involves studying language concepts by implementing a series of interpreters in Scheme, for purposes of its elegance and power, and assessing the differences in the resulting languages. Students can also expect a comparative survey of programming paradigms, including the use of representative languages, such as ML, Haskell, PROLOG, and Smalltalk. Course themes include the relationship between languages and the capacity to express ideas about computation, and the influence of language design and implementation options on current trends in programming practice and vice versa. This course assumes no prior experience with Scheme.

Syllabus

Pre-requisites: CPS 350 (Data Structures and Algorithms) (with a minimum grade of C for students enrolled in CPS 543).

Meeting times: M W 4:30pm-5:45pm, MH 203

Instructor: Dr. S. Perugini, AN 145, 229-4079, perugisa at udayton dot edu, OH's: M W 3:30pm-4:30pm and by appointment.

Teaching assistant: Vinay Thotakura, thotakvc at notes dot udayton dot edu

Required textbook:
    [EOPL] Essentials of Programming Languages by D.P. Friedman, M. Wand, and C.T. Haynes. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, Second edition, 2001. ISBN: 0-262-06217-8 (textbook webpage contains links to the source code of all programs in the text).
Recommended textbooks:
    [TLS] The Little Schemer by D.P. Friedman and M. Felleisen. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, Fourth edition, 1996. ISBN: 0-262-56099-2.
    [TSS] The Seasoned Schemer by D.P. Friedman and M. Felleisen. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 1996. ISBN: 0-262-56100-X.
    [TSPL] The Scheme Programming Language by R.K. Dybvig. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, Third edition, 2003. ISBN: 0-262-54148-3 (entire text of second and third editions is available online)
    [TLM] The Little MLer by M. Felleisen and D.P. Friedman. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 1997. ISBN: 978-0262561143.
    [EMLP] Elements of ML Programming by J.D. Ullman. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, Second edition, 1997. ISBN: 0-137-90387-1.
    [CFPL] Haskell: The Craft of Functional Programming by S. Thompson. Addison-Wesley, Harlow, England, Second edition, 1999. ISBN: 0-201-34275-8.
    [PPFC] Prolog Programming A First Course by P. Brna (entire text available online in various formats).
    [PIP] Programming in Prolog by W.F. Clocksin and C.S. Mellish. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Fourth edition, 1997.
    [QTOL] Squeak: A Quick Trip to ObjectLand by G. Korienek, T. Wrensch, and D. Dechow. Addison-Wesley, Boston, MA, 2002. ISBN: 0-201-73114-2.

Course outline, lecture notes, and reading assignments (to be completed prior to class):
  1. Fundamentals ([EOPL] Preface, Ch1)
    1. introduction, course objectives and outline, and programming language paradigms: Jan 3
    2. formal languages and grammars (Backus-Naur form) (§1.1): Jan 8 10
    3. recursive programming in Scheme (λ-calculus and S-expressions) (§1.2): Jan 17 22 24
      4. Exam 1: Jan 29 (closed book, closed notes)
    4. variable binding and scope (§1.3): Feb 5

  2. Data abstraction ([EOPL] Ch2)
    1. inductive data types and abstract syntax (§§2.1-2.2): Feb 7
    2. representation strategies (list, abstract syntax, and procedural) (§§2.3-2.4): Feb 12 19
      3. Exam 2: Feb 21 (closed book, closed notes)

  3. Environment-passing interpreters ([EOPL] Ch3)
    1. front end, conditional evaluation, and local binding (§§3.1-3.4) [The Roots of LISP]: Feb 26
    2. procedures and closures (§3.5): Feb 28
    3. recursion (§3.6) and variable assignment (§3.7): Mar 5
    4. parameter-passing mechanisms (§3.8): Mar 7
    5. lazy evaluation and thunks (call-by-name and call-by-need; §3.8): Mar 19
    6. lazy evaluation in Haskell [installing & using HUGS98] ([CFPL]), and statements and side effects (§3.9): Mar 21
      7. Exam 3: Mar 26 (take home)

  4. Continuations ([EOPL] pp. 241-243, §8.1, [TSPL] §§3.2-3.4, [TSS] Ch13, 19)
    1. continuations and call/cc [about continuations] ([TSPL] §3.3, [TSS] Ch13): Mar 26
    2. tail calls (pp. 241-243, [TSPL] §3.2) and continuation-passing style (§8.1, [TSPL] §3.4, [TSS] Ch19): Mar 28

  5. Types ([EOPL] Ch4, [EMLP] Ch3,5,6,8, [TLML])
    1. strong typing, type inference, and currying ([EMLP] Ch3,5) [installing & using SML-NJ]: Apr 2
    2. type systems (in ML [structures, signatures, and functors]; [EMLP] Ch6,8): Apr 4

  6. Logic programming ([EOPL] §7.6)
    1. first-order predicate logic (Horn clauses, resolution, and unification; §7.6): Apr 11
    2. logic programming in PROLOG (facts, rules, and goals): Apr 11
    3. logic programming in PROLOG (control and cut): Apr 16

  7. Object-oriented programming ([EOPL] pp. 169-171, [QTOL])
    1. message passing, dynamic binding, and reflection (pp. 169-171): Apr 23
    2. Smalltalk and Squeak ([QTOL]); and course reflection: Apr 25

    8. Final Exam: M April 30, 4:30pm-6:20pm, MH 203 (comprehensive, closed book, closed notes)
Programming languages resources

(programming style guide)
Homeworks: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

CPS 543 project

Grades: WebCT

Accounts: CPS account access @ home | UNIX account access | CPS labs hours | Keeping your password safe | A beginner's guide to effective e-mail
If you are unable to log into your CPS (Windows or UNIX) account or if you forget your CPS (Windows or UNIX) account password, contact the CPS systems administrator, Mr. Tramontana, at tramonjr at notes dot udayton dot edu or 229-3835, and be as specific as possible. Mr. Tramontana's office is located in the back of AN 131 and his office hours are M T W Th F 8:30am-4:30pm.

Helpful links: UD academic calendar | UD student handbook | UDit policies 

Feedback: Dr. Perugini welcomes any feedback you may have on the style of the lectures, the concepts presented in class, the course webpage, homeworks, deadlines, course and grading policies, or your general experience in the course.