Engineering Programming Language Concepts

Abstract

The study of programming languages is beneficial to all levels of programmers. The first part of this paper reviews some of the reasons for studying programming languages. To isolate some of the issues of language design, definition, and implementation, mini-languages have been used in Programming Languages courses. Mini-languages are small and complete, yet restricted languages. They have a small syntax and simple semantics. Mini-languages and their compilers are being successfully used as a basis for a Programming Languages course.