CSci532 Programming Languages and Paradigms syllabus

SYLLABUS

CSci532 Programming Languages and Paradigms
Department of Computer Science, University of North Dakota
Fall, 2008

Class time:	03:00pm – 03:50pm, MWF
Classroom:	Streibel Hall 238
Credit hours:	3
Class pages^†:	http://people.cs.und.edu/~wenchen/course/532/

Instructor:	Wen-Chen Hu
Email:	wenchen@cs.und.edu
Office:	Streibel Hall 212
Office hours:	04:00pm – 05:00pm, MWF, or simply dropping by

DESCRIPTION: This course gives an advanced, theoretical study of programming languages and paradigms. It covers three themes:

Programming language syntax includes context-free grammars, syntax diagrams, parsing, ambiguity, and abstract syntax.
Programming language semantics includes denotational semantics, axiomatic semantics, and proof of program correctness.
Programming paradigms include imperative, concurrent, object-oriented, functional, and logic programming paradigms.

Some other special topics such as fixed-point semantics will be covered if time is allowed.

TEXTBOOKS: There does not exist an ideal textbook for a graduate programming-language course. So students should expect to find that various materials will be used in classes. Most class materials are from the following sources:

“Formal Syntax and Semantics of Programming Languages: A Laboratory-Based Approach,” Ken Slonneger and Barry L. Kurtz, Addison-Wesley, 1995, ISBN: 0-201-65697-3.
“Compilers: Principles, Techniques, and Tools,” Alfred V. Aho, Monica S. Lam, Ravi Sethi, and Jeffrey D. Ullman, Addison-Wesley, 2006, ISBN: 0-321-48681-1.
Collection of papers from the References.

EVALUATION (Attendance is absolutely required.):

    Homeworks, programming exercises, and quizzes^‡
    Two exams
    Final exam

—— 20%
—— 25% each
—— 30%

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:

    Week        1  ——  Introduction
    Weeks  2 -  3  ——  Programming language syntax
    Weeks  4 -  5  ——  Translational semantics using attribute grammars
    Weeks  6 -  7  ——  Denotational semantics
    Weeks  8 -  9  ——  Axiomatic semantics
    Weeks 10 - 11  ——  Program correctness and termination
    Week       12  ——  Logic programming paradigm
    Week       13  ——  Functional programming paradigm
    Week       14  ——  Object-oriented programming paradigm
    Week       15  ——  Concurrent programming paradigm
    Week       16  ——  Imperative programming paradigm

DISHONESTY: Under no circumstances will acts of academic dishonesty be tolerated. Any suspected incidents of dishonesty will be promptly referred to the Assistant Dean of Students. Refer to the Code of Student Life, Chapter 3-3 Scholastic Dishonesty.

DISABILITY: Students who need special accommodations for learning or who have special needs are invited to share these concerns or requests with the instructor as soon as possible.

^†The on-line class materials provide the most complete and up-to-date information about this course. However, many key points in the slides will be omitted, but will be given in classes. They will be asked or used in the exams, quizzes, or exercises. This is to encourage students to attend classes.

^‡The quizzes are simple and straightforward and will not be announced in advance.