PPL Notes
PPL Notes
PPL - Notes
Principles of
Programming
Languages
M.ARCHANA
CONTENTS
UNIT-1
Preliminary Concepts
Background
÷ Frankly, we didn8t have the vaguest idea how the thing [FORTRAN language and
compiler] would work out in detail. &We struck out simply to optimize the
object program, the running time, because most people at that time believed
you couldn8t do that kind of thing. They believed that machined-coded programs
would be so inefficient that it would be impractical for many applications.
÷ John Backus, unexpected successes are common 3 the browser is another
example of an unexpected success
÷ Readability : the ease with which programs can be read and understood
÷ Writability : the ease with which a language can be used to create programs
÷ Reliability : conformance to specifications (i.e., performs to its specifications)
÷ Cost : the ultimate total cost
Readability
÷ Overall simplicity
3 A manageable set of features and constructs
3 Few feature multiplicity (means of doing the same operation)
3 Minimal operator overloading
÷ Orthogonality
3 A relatively small set of primitive constructs can be combined in a relatively
small number of ways
3 Every possible combination is legal
÷ Control statements
3 The presence of well-known control structures (e.g., while statement)
÷ Data types and structures
3 The presence of adequate facilities for defining data structures
÷ Syntax considerations
3 Identifier forms: flexible composition
3 Special words and methods of forming compound statements
3 Form and meaning: self-descriptive constructs, meaningful keywords
Writability
÷ Simplicity and Orthogonality
3 Few constructs, a small number of primitives, a small set of rules for
combining them
÷ Support for abstraction
3 The ability to define and use complex structures or operations in ways that
allow details to be ignored
÷ Expressivity
3 A set of relatively convenient ways of specifying operations
3 Example: the inclusion of for statement in many modern languages
Reliability
÷ Type checking
3 Testing for type errors
÷ Exception handling
3 Intercept run-time errors and take corrective measures
÷ Aliasing
3 Presence of two or more distinct referencing methods for the same memory
location
÷ Readability and writability
3 A language that does not support <natural= ways of expressing an algorithm
will necessarily use <unnatural= approaches, and hence reduced reliability
Cost
÷ Training programmers to use language
÷ Writing programs (closeness to particular applications)
÷ Compiling programs
÷ Executing programs
Computer Architecture
÷ Well-known computer architecture: Von Neumann
÷ Imperative languages, most dominant, because of von Neumann computers
3 Data and programs stored in memory
3 Memory is separate from CPU
3 Instructions and data are piped from memory to CPU
3 Basis for imperative languages
÷ Variables model memory cells
÷ Assignment statements model piping
÷ Iteration is efficient
Programming Methodologies
÷ 1950s and early 1960s: Simple applications; worry about machine efficiency
÷ Late 1960s: People efficiency became important; readability, better control
structures
3 structured programming
3 top-down design and step-wise refinement
÷ Late 1970s: Process-oriented to data-oriented
3 data abstraction
÷ Middle 1980s: Object-oriented programming
3 Data abstraction + inheritance + polymorphism
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Pure Interpretation
÷ No translation
÷ Easier implementation of programs (run-time errors can easily and immediately
displayed)
÷ Slower execution (10 to 100 times slower than compiled programs)
÷ Often requires more space
÷ Becoming rare on high-level languages
Introduction
÷ Syntax: the form or structure of the expressions, statements, and program
units
÷ Semantics: the meaning of the expressions, statements, and program units
÷ Syntax and semantics provide a language8s definition
3 Users of a language definition
3 Other language designers
3 Implementers
3 Programmers (the users of the language)
Parse Tree
A hierarchical representation of a derivation
An example derivation Figure 2.1 Parse Tree
<program>ð<stmts>
ð<stmt>
ð<var>=<expr>
ða=<expr>
ða=<term>+<term>
ða=<var>+<term>
ða=b+<term>
ða=b+const
Derivation
÷ Every string of symbols in the derivation is a sentential form
÷ A sentence is a sentential form that has only terminal symbols
÷ A leftmost derivation is one in which the leftmost nonterminal in each sentential
form is the one that is expanded
÷ A derivation may be neither leftmost nor rightmost
Ambiguity in Grammars
÷ A grammar is ambiguous iff it generates a sentential form that has two or more
distinct parse trees
An Unambiguous Expression Grammar
If we use the parse tree to indicate precedence levels of the operators, we cannot
have ambiguity
<expr> ³ <expr> - <term>|<term>
<term> ³ <term> / const|const
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Definition
÷ An attribute grammar is a context-free grammar G = (S, N, T, P) with the
following additions:
3 For each grammar symbol x there is a set A(x) of attribute values
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3 Each rule has a set of functions that define certain attributes of the
nonterminals in the rule
3 Each rule has a (possibly empty) set of predicates to check for attribute
consistency
3 Let X0 X1 ... Xn be a rule
3 Functions of the form S(X0) = f(A(X1), ... , A(Xn)) define synthesized attributes
3 Functions of the form I(Xj) = f(A(X0), ... , A(Xn)), for i <= j <= n, define
inherited attributes
3 Initially, there are intrinsic attributes on the leaves
Example
÷ Syntax
<assign> ³ <var> = <expr>
<expr> ³ <var> + <var> | <var>
<var> ³ A | B | C
÷ actual_type: synthesized for <var> and <expr>
÷ expected_type: inherited for <expr>
÷ Syntax rule :<expr> ³ <var>[1] + <var>[2]
Semantic rules :<expr>.actual_type ³ <var>[1].actual_type
Predicate :<var>[1].actual_type == <var>[2].actual_type
<expr>.expected_type == <expr>.actual_type
÷ Syntax rule :<var> ³ id
Semantic rule :<var>.actual_type ü lookup (<var>.string)
÷ How are attribute values computed?
3 If all attributes were inherited, the tree could be decorated in top-down order.
3 If all attributes were synthesized, the tree could be decorated in bottom-up
order.
3 In many cases, both kinds of attributes are used, and it is some combination
of top-down and bottom-up that must be used.
<expr>.expected_type ü inherited from parent
<var>[1].actual_type ü lookup (A)
<var>[2].actual_type ü lookup (B)
<var>[1].actual_type =? <var>[2].actual_type
<expr>.actual_type ü <var>[1].actual_type
<expr>.actual_type =? <expr>.expected_type
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Operational Semantics
÷ A better alternative: A complete computer simulation
÷ The process:
3 Build a translator (translates source code to the machine code of an idealized
computer)
3 Build a simulator for the idealized computer
÷ Evaluation of operational semantics:
3 Good if used informally (language manuals, etc.)
3 Extremely complex if used formally (e.g., VDL), it was used for describing
semantics of PL/I.
÷ Axiomatic Semantics
3 Based on formal logic (predicate calculus)
3 Original purpose: formal program verification
3 Approach: Define axioms or inference rules for each statement type in the
language (to allow transformations of expressions to other expressions)
3 The expressions are called assertions
Axiomatic Semantics
÷ An assertion before a statement (a precondition) states the relationships and
constraints among variables that are true at that point in execution
÷ An assertion following a statement is a postcondition
÷ A weakest precondition is the least restrictive precondition that will guarantee
the postcondition
÷ Pre-post form: {P} statement {Q}
÷ An example: a = b + 1 {a > 1}
÷ One possible precondition: {b > 10}
÷ Weakest precondition: {b > 0}
÷ Program proof process: The postcondition for the whole program is the desired
result. Work back through the program to the first statement. If the
precondition on the first statement is the same as the program spec, the
program is correct.
÷ An axiom for assignment statements
(x = E):
{Qx->E} x = E {Q}
÷ An inference rule for sequences
3 For a sequence S1;S2:
3 {P1} S1 {P2}
3 {P2} S2 {P3}
÷ An inference rule for logical pretest loops
For the loop construct:
{P} while B do S end {Q}
Characteristics of the loop invariant
I must meet the following conditions:
3 P => I (the loop invariant must be true initially)
3 {I} B {I} (evaluation of the Boolean must not change the validity of I)
3 {I and B} S {I} (I is not changed by executing the body of the loop)
3 (I and (not B)) => Q (if I is true and B is false, Q is implied)
3 The loop terminates (this can be difficult to prove)
÷ The loop invariant I is a weakened version of the loop postcondition, and it is
also a precondition.
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÷ I must be weak enough to be satisfied prior to the beginning of the loop, but
when combined with the loop exit condition, it must be strong enough to force
the truth of the postcondition.
Denotational Semantics
3 Based on recursive function theory
3 The most abstract semantics description method
3 Originally developed by Scott and Strachey (1970)
3 The process of building a denotational spec for a language (not necessarily
easy):
3 Define a mathematical object for each language entity
3 Define a function that maps instances of the language entities onto instances
of the corresponding mathematical objects
3 The meaning of language constructs are defined by only the values of the
program's variables
3 The difference between denotational and operational semantics: In
operational semantics, the state changes are defined by coded algorithms; in
denotational semantics, they are defined by rigorous mathematical functions
3 The state of a program is the values of all its current variables
s = {<i1, v1>, <i2, v2>, &, <in, vn>}
3 Let VARMAP be a function that, when given a variable name and a state,
returns the current value of the variable
VARMAP(ij, s) = vj
÷ Decimal Numbers
3 The following denotational semantics description maps decimal numbers as
strings of symbols into numeric values
<dec_num> ³ 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
ð| <dec_num> (0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9)
Mdec('0') = 0, Mdec ('1') = 1, &, Mdec ('9') = 9
Mdec (<dec_num> '0') = 10 * Mdec (<dec_num>)
Mdec (<dec_num> '19) = 10 * Mdec (<dec_num>) + 1
&
Mdec (<dec_num> '9') = 10 * Mdec (<dec_num>) + 9
Expressions
÷ Map expressions onto Z ø {error}
÷ We assume expressions are decimal numbers, variables, or binary expressions
having one arithmetic operator and two operands, each of which can be an
expression
÷ Assignment Statements
3 Maps state sets to state sets
÷ Logical Pretest Loops
3 Maps state sets to state sets
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÷ The meaning of the loop is the value of the program variables after the
statements in the loop have been executed the prescribed number of times,
assuming there have been no errors
÷ In essence, the loop has been converted from iteration to recursion, where the
recursive control is mathematically defined by other recursive state mapping
functions
÷ Recursion, when compared to iteration, is easier to describe with mathematical
rigor
÷ Evaluation of denotational semantics
3 Can be used to prove the correctness of programs
3 Provides a rigorous way to think about programs
3 Can be an aid to language design
3 Has been used in compiler generation systems
3 Because of its complexity, they are of little use to language users
Summary
÷ BNF and context-free grammars are equivalent meta-languages
3 Well-suited for describing the syntax of programming languages
÷ An attribute grammar is a descriptive formalism that can describe both the
syntax and the semantics of a language
÷ Three primary methods of semantics description
3 Operation, axiomatic, denotational
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UNIT-2
Data Types and Variables
Introduction
÷ A data type defines a collection of data objects and a set of predefined
operations on those objects
÷ A descriptor is the collection of the attributes of a variable
÷ An object represents an instance of a user-defined (abstract data) type
÷ One design issue for all data types: What operations are defined and how are
they specified?
Enumeration Types
÷ All possible values, which are named constants, are provided in the definition
÷ C# example
enum days {mon, tue, wed, thu, fri, sat, sun};
÷ Design issues
3 Is an enumeration constant allowed to appear in more than one type
definition, and if so, how is the type of an occurrence of that constant
checked?
3 Are enumeration values coerced to integer?
3 Any other type coerced to an enumeration type?
Subrange Types
÷ An ordered contiguous subsequence of an ordinal type
3 Example: 12..18 is a subrange of integer type
÷ Ada8s design
type Days is (mon, tue, wed, thu, fri, sat, sun);
subtype Weekdays is Days range mon..fri;
subtype Index is Integer range 1..100;
Day1: Days;
Day2: Weekday;
Day2 := Day1;
Subrange Evaluation
÷ Aid to readability
3 Make it clear to the readers that variables of subrange can store only certain
range of values
÷ Reliability
3 Assigning a value to a subrange variable that is outside the specified range is
detected as an error
Implementation
÷ Enumeration types are implemented as integers
÷ Subrange types are implemented like the parent types with code inserted (by the
compiler) to restrict assignments to subrange variables
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Array Types
÷ An array is an aggregate of homogeneous data elements in which an individual
element is identified by its position in the aggregate, relative to the first element.
Array Design Issues
÷ What types are legal for subscripts?
÷ Are subscripting expressions in element references range checked?
÷ When are subscript ranges bound?
÷ When does allocation take place?
÷ What is the maximum number of subscripts?
÷ Can array objects be initialized?
÷ Are any kind of slices supported?
Array Indexing
÷ Indexing (or subscripting) is a mapping from indices to elements
array_name (index_value_list)þan element
÷ Index Syntax
3 FORTRAN, PL/I, Ada use parentheses
÷ Ada explicitly uses parentheses to show uniformity between array references
and function calls because both are mappings
3 Most other languages use brackets
Arrays Index (Subscript) Types
÷ FORTRAN, C: integer only
÷ Ada: integer or enumeration (includes Boolean and char)
÷ Java: integer types only
÷ Index range checking
3 C, C++, Perl, and Fortran do not specify range checking
3 Java, ML, C# specify range checking
3 In Ada, the default is to require range checking, but it can be turned off
Subscript Binding and Array Categories
÷ Static: subscript ranges are statically bound and storage allocation is static
(before run-time)
3 Advantage: efficiency (no dynamic allocation)
÷ Fixed stack-dynamic: subscript ranges are statically bound, but the allocation is
done at declaration time
3 Advantage: space efficiency
÷ Stack-dynamic: subscript ranges are dynamically bound and the storage
allocation is dynamic (done at run-time)
3 Advantage: flexibility (the size of an array need not be known until the array
is to be used)
÷ Fixed heap-dynamic: similar to fixed stack-dynamic: storage binding is dynamic
but fixed after allocation (i.e., binding is done when requested and storage is
allocated from heap, not stack)
÷ Heap-dynamic: binding of subscript ranges and storage allocation is dynamic
and can change any number of times
3 Advantage: flexibility (arrays can grow or shrink during program execution)
÷ C and C++ arrays that include static modifier are static
÷ C and C++ arrays without static modifier are fixed stack-dynamic
÷ C and C++ provide fixed heap-dynamic arrays
÷ C# includes a second array class ArrayList that provides fixed heap-dynamic
÷ Perl, JavaScript, Python, and Ruby support heap-dynamic arrays
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Array Initialization
÷ Some language allow initialization at the time of storage allocation
3 C, C++, Java, C# example
int list [] = {4, 5, 7, 83}
3 Character strings in C and C++
char name [] = <freddie=;
3 Arrays of strings in C and C++
char *names [] = {<Bob=, <Jake=, <Joe=};
3 Java initialization of String objects
String[] names = {<Bob=, <Jake=, <Joe=};
Heterogeneous Arrays
÷ A heterogeneous array is one in which the elements need not be of the same
type
÷ Supported by Perl, Python, JavaScript, and Ruby
Arrays Operations
÷ APL provides the most powerful array processing operations for vectors and
matrixes as well as unary operators (for example, to reverse column elements)
÷ Ada allows array assignment but also catenation
÷ Python8s array assignments, but they are only reference changes. Python also
supports array catenation and element membership operations
÷ Ruby also provides array catenation
÷ Fortran provides elemental operations because they are between pairs of array
elements
3 For example, + operator between two arrays results in an array of the sums
of the element pairs of the two arrays
Rectangular and Jagged Arrays
÷ A rectangular array is a multi-dimensioned array in which all of the rows have
the same number of elements and all columns have the same number of
elements
÷ A jagged matrix has rows with varying number of elements
3 Possible when multi-dimensioned arrays actually appear as arrays of arrays
÷ C, C++, and Java support jagged arrays
÷ Fortran, Ada, and C# support rectangular arrays (C# also supports jagged
arrays)
Slices
÷ A slice is some substructure of an array; nothing more than a referencing
mechanism
÷ Slices are only useful in languages that have array operations
Implementation of Arrays
÷ Access function maps subscript expressions to an address in the array
÷ Access function for single-dimensioned arrays:
address(list[k]) = address (list[lower_bound])+((k-lower_bound) * element_size)
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Compile-Time Descriptors
Associative Arrays
÷ An associative array is an unordered collection of data elements that are
indexed by an equal number of values called keys
3 User-defined keys must be stored
÷ Design issues:
3 What is the form of references to elements?
3 Is the size static or dynamic?
Associative Arrays in Perl
÷ Names begin with %; literals are delimited by parentheses
%hi_temps = ("Mon" => 77, "Tue" => 79, 5Wed6 => 65, &);
÷ Subscripting is done using braces and keys
$hi_temps{"Wed"} = 83;
÷ Elements can be removed with delete
delete $hi_temps{"Tue"};
Unions Types
÷ A union is a type whose variables are allowed to store different type values at
different times during execution
÷ Design issues
3 Should type checking be required?
3 Should unions be embedded in records?
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Variable-Size Cells
÷ All the difficulties of single-size cells plus more
÷ Required by most programming languages
÷ If mark-sweep is used, additional problems occur
3 The initial setting of the indicators of all cells in the heap is difficult
3 The marking process in nontrivial
3 Maintaining the list of available space is another source of overhead
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Variables 3 CO2
÷ A variable is an abstraction of a memory cell
÷ Variables can be characterized as a sextuple of attributes:
(name, address, value, type, lifetime, and scope)
÷ Name - not all variables have them (anonymous)
÷ Address - the memory address with which it is associated (also called l-value)
3 A variable may have different addresses at different times during execution
3 A variable may have different addresses at different places in a program
3 If two variable names can be used to access the same memory location, they
are called aliases
3 Aliases are harmful to readability (program readers must remember all of
them)
÷ How aliases can be created:
3 Pointers, reference variables, C and C++ unions
3 Some of the original justifications for aliases are no longer valid; e.g.,
memory reuse in FORTRAN
3 Replace them with dynamic allocation
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÷ Type - determines the range of values of variables and the set of operations that
are defined for values of that type; in the case of floating point, type also
determines the Precision
÷ Value - the contents of the location with which the variable is associated
÷ Abstract memory cell - the physical cell or collection of cells associated with a
variable
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Type Compatibility
÷ Advantage of strong typing: allows the detection of the misuses of variables that
result in type errors
÷ Language examples:
3 FORTRAN 77 is not: parameters, EQUIVALENCE
3 Pascal is not: variant records
3 C and C++ are not: parameter type checking can be avoided; unions are not
type checked
3 Ada is, almost (UNCHECKED CONVERSION is loophole)
(Java is similar)
÷ Coercion rules strongly affect strong typing--they can weaken it considerably
(C++ versus Ada)
÷ Although Java has just half the assignment coercions of C++, its strong typing
is still far less effective than that of Ada
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Named Constants
÷ Def: A named constant is a variable that is bound to a value only when it is
bound to storage
÷ Advantages: readability and modifiability
÷ Used to parameterize programs
÷ The binding of values to named constants can be either static (called manifest
constants) or dynamic
÷ Languages:
3 Pascal: literals only
3 FORTRAN 90: constant-valued expressions
3 Ada, C++, and Java: expressions of any kind
Variable Initialization
÷ Def: The binding of a variable to a value at the time it is bound to storage is
called initialization
÷ Initialization is often done on the declaration statement e.g., Java int sum = 0
Summary
÷ The data types of a language are a large part of what determines that language8s
style and usefulness
÷ The primitive data types of most imperative languages include numeric,
character, and Boolean types
÷ The user-defined enumeration and subrange types are convenient and add to
the readability and reliability of programs
÷ Arrays and records are included in most languages
÷ Pointers are used for addressing flexibility and to control dynamic storage
management
÷ Case sensitivity and the relationship of names to special words represent design
issues of names
÷ Variables are characterized by the sextuples: name, address, value, type,
lifetime, scope
÷ Binding is the association of attributes with program entities
÷ Scalar variables are categorized as: static, stack dynamic, explicit heap
dynamic, implicit heap dynamic
÷ Strong typing means detecting all type errors
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Introduction
÷ Expressions are the fundamental means of specifying computations in a
programming language.
÷ To understand expression evaluation, need to be familiar with the orders of
operator and operand evaluation.
÷ Essence of imperative languages is dominant role of assignment statements
Arithmetic Expressions.
÷ Arithmetic evaluation was one of the motivations for the development of the first
programming languages.
Conditional Expressions
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Potentials for Side Effects Functional side effects: when a function changes a two-
way parameter or a non-local variable
Problem with functional side effects: When a function referenced in an
expression alters another operand of the expression;
e.g., for a parameter change:
a = 10;
/* assume that fun changes its parameter */
b = a + fun(a);
Two possible solutions to the functional side effects problem: Write the language
definition to disallow functional side effects.
÷ No two-way parameters in functions
÷ No non-local references in functions
Advantage: it works!
Disadvantages: inflexibility of one-way parameters and lack of non-local references
3 Write the language definition to demand that operand evaluation order be fixed.
Disadvantage: limits some compiler optimizations
3 Java requires that operands appear to be evaluated in left-to-right order.
Overloaded Operators
Use of an operator for more than one purpose is called operator overloading.
÷ Some are common (e.g., + for int and float)
÷ Some are potential trouble (e.g., * in C and C++)
Problems:
÷ Loss of compiler error detection (omission of an operand should be a detectable
error)
÷ Some loss of readability
÷ Can be avoided by introduction of new symbols (e.g., Pascal8s div for integer
division)
÷ C++, Ada, Fortran 95, and C# allow user-defined overloaded operators
Potential problems:
÷ Users can define nonsense operations.
÷ Readability may suffer, even when the operators make sense.
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Type Conversions
A narrowing conversion is one that converts an object to a type that cannot
include all of the values of the original type.
e.g., float to int
A widening conversion is one in which an object is converted to a type that can
include at least approximations to all of the values of the original type.
e.g., int to float
Mixed Mode
A mixed-mode expression is one that has operands of different types
A coercion is an implicit type conversion
Disadvantage of coercions:
3 They decrease in the type error detection ability of the compiler
÷ In most languages, all numeric types are coerced in expressions, using widening
conversions.
÷ In Ada, there are virtually no coercions in expressions
Explicit Type Conversions called as casting in C-based languages.
Examples:-
C: (int)angle, Ada: Float (Sum)
3 Note that Ada9s syntax is similar to that of function calls
Errors in Expressions causes
÷ Inherent limitations of arithmetic e.g., division by zero
÷ Limitations of computer arithmetic e.g., overflow
÷ Often ignored by the run-time system
Assignment as an Expression
In C, C++, and Java, the assignment statement produces a result and can be
used as operands.
while ((ch = getchar())!= EOF){&}
ch = getchar() is carried out; the result (assigned to ch) is used as a conditional
value for the while statement
List Assignments
Perl and Ruby support list assignments
e.g., ($first, $second, $third) = (20, 30, 40);
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Mixed-Mode Assignment
Assignment statements can also be mixed-mode, for example
int a, b;
float c;
c = a / b;
3 In Fortran, C, and C++, any numeric type value can be assigned to any numeric
type variable.
3 In Java, only widening assignment coercions are done.
3 In Ada, there is no assignment coercion.
if x > y :
x=y
print "case 1"
Nesting Selectors:Java example
if (sum == 0)
if (count == 0)
result = 0;
else result = 1;
÷ Which if gets the else?
÷ Java's static semantics rule: else matches with the nearest if Nesting Selectors
÷ To force an alternative semantics, compound statements may be used:
if (sum == 0) {
if (count == 0)
result = 0;}
else result = 1;
÷ The above solution is used in C, C++, and C#
÷ Perl requires that all then and else clauses to be compound
÷ Statement sequences as clauses: Ruby
if sum == 0 then
if count == 0 then
result = 0
else
result = 1
end
end
-Python
if sum == 0 :
if count == 0 :
result = 0
else :
result = 1
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÷ default clause is for unrepresented values (if there is no default, the whole
statement does nothing)
÷ C#
3 Differs from C in that it has a static semantics rule that disallows the
implicit execution of more than one segment
3 Each selectable segment must end with an unconditional branch (goto or
break)
÷ Ada
case expression is
when choice list => stmt_sequence;
&
when choice list => stmt_sequence;
when others => stmt_sequence;]
end case;
More reliable than C8s switch (once a stmt_sequence execution is completed, control is
passed to the first statement after the case statement
÷ Ada design choices:
1. Expression can be any ordinal type
2. Segments can be single or compound
3. Only one segment can be executed per execution of the construct
4. Unrepresented values are not allowed
÷ Constant List Forms:
1. A list of constants
2. Can include:
- Subranges
- Boolean OR operators (|)
Iterative Statements
÷ The repeated execution of a statement or compound statement is accomplished
either by iteration or recursion
÷ General design issues for iteration control statements:
1. How is iteration controlled?
2. Where is the control mechanism in the loop?
Counter-Controlled Loops
A counting iterative statement has a loop variable, and a means of specifying
the initial and terminal, and stepsize values
Design Issues:
÷ What are the type and scope of the loop variable?
÷ What is the value of the loop variable at loop termination?
÷ Should it be legal for the loop variable or loop parameters to be changed in the
loop body, and if so, does the change affect loop control?
÷ Should the loop parameters be evaluated only once, or once for every iteration?
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Guarded Commands
÷ Designed by Dijkstra
÷ Purpose: to support a new programming methodology that supported
verification (correctness) during development
÷ Basis for two linguistic mechanisms for concurrent programming (in CSP and
Ada)
÷ Basic Idea: if the order of evaluation is not important, the program should not
specify one
Selection Guarded Command
"Form
if <Boolean exp> -> <statement>
[] <Boolean exp> -> <statement>
...
[] <Boolean exp> -> <statement>
fi
Semantics: when construct is reached,
÷ Evaluate all Boolean expressions
÷ If more than one are true, choose one non-deterministically
÷ If none are true, it is a runtime error
Summary
÷ Expressions
÷ Operator precedence and associativity
÷ Operator overloading
÷ Mixed-type expressions
÷ Various forms of assignment
÷ Variety of statement-level structures
÷ Choice of control statements beyond selection and logical pretest loops is a
trade-off between language size and writability
÷ Functional and logic programming languages are quite different control
structures
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UNIT-3
Subprograms and Blocks
Introduction
÷ Two fundamental abstraction facilities
3 Process abstraction
÷ Emphasized from early days
3 Data abstraction
÷ Emphasized in the1980s
A calls C and D
B calls A and E
÷ Suppose the spec is changed so that D must now access some data in B
÷ Solutions:
3 Put D in B (but then C can no longer call it and D cannot access A's
variables)
3 Move the data from B that D needs to MAIN (but then all procedures can
access them)
÷ Same problem for procedure access
÷ Overall: static scoping often encourages many globals
Dynamic Scope
3 Based on calling sequences of program units, not their textual layout
(temporal versus spatial)
3 References to variables are connected to declarations by searching back
through the chain of subprogram calls that forced execution to this point
Scope Example
MAIN
- declaration of x
SUB1
- declaration of x -
...
call SUB2
...
SUB2
...
- reference to x -
...
...
call SUB1
&
÷ Static scoping
3 Reference to x is to MAIN's x
÷ Dynamic scoping
3 Reference to x is to SUB1's x
÷ Evaluation of Dynamic Scoping:
3 Advantage: convenience
3 Disadvantage: poor readability
÷ Indirect addressing
÷ Subprograms cannot be history sensitive
÷ Local variables can be static
3 More efficient (no indirection)
3 No run-time overhead
÷ The value of the actual parameter is used to initialize the corresponding formal
parameter
3 Normally implemented by copying
3 Can be implemented by transmitting an access path but not recommended
(enforcing write protection is not easy)
3 When copies are used, additional storage is required
3 Storage and copy operations can be costly
45
return sum;
end <*=;
&
c = a * b; -- a, b, and c are of type Vec_Type
3.7 Co-Routines 3 CO3
÷ A coroutine is a subprogram that has multiple entries and controls them itself
÷ Also called symmetric control: caller and called coroutines are on a more equal
basis
÷ A coroutine call is named a resume
÷ The first resume of a coroutine is to its beginning, but subsequent calls enter at
the point just after the last executed statement in the coroutine
÷ Coroutines repeatedly resume each other, possibly forever
÷ Coroutines provide quasi-concurrent execution of program units (the coroutines);
their execution is interleaved, but not overlapped
Figure 5.2 Possible Execution Controls Figure 5.3 Possible Execution Controls
49
UNIT-4
Abstract Data Types
50
52
Language Examples: C#
÷ Based on C++ and Java
÷ Adds two access modifiers, internal and protected internal
÷ All class instances are heap dynamic
÷ Default constructors are available for all classes
÷ Garbage collection is used for most heap objects, so destructors are rarely used
÷ structs are lightweight classes that do not support inheritance
÷ Common solution to need for access to data members: accessor methods(getter
and setter)
÷ C# provides properties as a way of implementing getters and setters without
requiring explicit method calls
C# Property Example
public class Weather {
public int DegreeDays { //** DegreeDays is a property
get {return degreeDays;}
set {
if(value < 0 || value > 30)
Console.WriteLine("Value is out of range: {0}", value);
else degreeDays = value;}
}
private int degreeDays;
...
}
...
Weather w = new Weather();
int degreeDaysToday, oldDegreeDays;
...
w.DegreeDays = degreeDaysToday;
...
oldDegreeDays = w.DegreeDays;
54
Nested Classes
÷ If a new class is needed by only one class, there is no reason to define so it can
be seen by other classes
3 Can the new class be nested inside the class that uses it?
3 In some cases, the new class is nested inside a subprogram rather than
directly in another class
÷ Other issues:
3 Which facilities of the nesting class should be visible to the nested class and
vice versa
Concurrency
÷ Concurrency can occur at four levels:
3 Machine instruction level
3 High-level language statement level
3 Unit level
3 Program level
÷ Because there are no language issues in instruction- and program-level
concurrency, they are not addressed here
61
Multiprocessor Architectures
÷ Late 1950s - one general-purpose processor and one or more special purpose
processors for input and output operations
÷ Early 1960s - multiple complete processors, used for program-level concurrency
÷ Mid-1960s - multiple partial processors, used for instruction-level concurrency
÷ Single-Instruction Multiple-Data (SIMD) machines
÷ Multiple-Instruction Multiple-Data (MIMD) machines
3 Independent processors that can be synchronized (unit-level concurrency)
Categories of Concurrency
÷ A thread of control in a program is the sequence of program points reached as
control flows through the program
÷ Categories of Concurrency:
3 Physical concurrency - Multiple independent processors (multiple threads of
control)
3 Logical concurrency - The appearance of physical concurrency is presented by
time-sharing one processor (software can be designed as if there were
multiple threads of control)
÷ Coroutines (quasi-concurrency) have a single thread of control
Motivations for Studying Concurrency
÷ Involves a different way of designing software that can be very useful4 many
real-world situations involve concurrency
÷ Multiprocessor computers capable of physical concurrency are now widely used
Subprogram-Level Concurrency
÷ A task or process is a program unit that can be in concurrent execution with
other program units
÷ Tasks differ from ordinary subprograms in that:
3 A task may be implicitly started
3 When a program unit starts the execution of a task, it is not necessarily
suspended
3 When a task8s execution is completed, control may not return to the caller
÷ Tasks usually work together
Two General Categories of Tasks
÷ Heavyweight tasks execute in their own address space
÷ Lightweight tasks all run in the same address space
÷ A task is disjoint if it does not communicate with or affect the execution of any
other task in the program in any way
Task Synchronization
÷ A mechanism that controls the order in which tasks execute
÷ Two kinds of synchronization
3 Cooperation synchronization
3 Competition synchronization
÷ Task communication is necessary for synchronization, provided by:
3 Shared nonlocal variables
3 Parameters
3 Message passing
Kinds of synchronization
÷ Cooperation: Task A must wait for task B to complete some specific activity
before task A can continue its execution, e.g., the producer-consumer problem
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÷ Competition: Two or more tasks must use some resource that cannot be
simultaneously used, e.g., a shared counter
3 Competition is usually provided by mutually exclusive access (approaches
are discussed later)
3
Semaphores
÷ Dijkstra - 1965
÷ A semaphore is a data structure consisting of a counter and a queue for storing
task descriptors
÷ Semaphores can be used to implement guards on the code that accesses shared
data structures
÷ Semaphores have only two operations, wait and release (originally called P and
V by Dijkstra)
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64
Monitors
÷ Ada, Java, C#
÷ The idea: encapsulate the shared data and its operations to restrict access
÷ A monitor is an abstract data type for shared data
Competition Synchronization
÷ Shared data is resident in the monitor (rather than in the client units)
÷ All access resident in the monitor
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Message Passing
÷ Message passing is a general model for concurrency
3 It can model both semaphores and monitors
3 It is not just for competition synchronization
÷ Central idea: task communication is like seeing a doctor--most of the time she
waits for you or you wait for her, but when you are both ready, you get together,
or rendezvous
Message Passing Rendezvous
÷ To support concurrent tasks with message passing, a language needs:
3 A mechanism to allow a task to indicate when it is willing to accept messages
3 A way to remember who is waiting to have its message accepted and some
<fair= way of choosing the next message
÷ When a sender task8s message is accepted by a receiver task, the actual
message transmission is called a rendezvous
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Task Body
÷ The body task describes the action that takes place when a rendezvous occurs
÷ A task that sends a message is suspended while waiting for the message to be
accepted and during the rendezvous
÷ Entry points in the spec are described with accept clauses in the body accept
entry_name (formal parameters) do
&
end entry_name
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68
Task Termination
÷ The execution of a task is completed if control has reached the end of its code
body
÷ If a task has created no dependent tasks and is completed, it is terminated
÷ If a task has created dependent tasks and is completed, it is not terminated
until all its dependent tasks are terminated
The terminate Clause
÷ A terminate clause in a select is just a terminate statement
÷ A terminate clause is selected when no accept clause is open
÷ When a terminate is selected in a task, the task is terminated only when its
master and all of the dependents of its master are either completed or are
waiting at a terminate
÷ A block or subprogram is not left until all of its dependent tasks are terminated
Message Passing Priorities
÷ The priority of any task can be set with the pragma priority pragma Priority
(expression);
÷ The priority of a task applies to it only when it is in the task ready queue
Binary Semaphores
÷ For situations where the data to which access is to be controlled is NOT
encapsulated in a task
task Binary_Semaphore is
entry Wait;
entry release;
end Binary_Semaphore;
task body Binary_Semaphore is
begin
loop
accept Wait;
accept Release;
end loop;
end Binary_Semaphore;
Concurrency in Ada 95
÷ Ada 95 includes Ada 83 features for concurrency, plus two new features
3 Protected objects: A more efficient way of implementing shared data to allow
access to a shared data structure to be done without rendezvous
3 Asynchronous communication
Asynchronous Communication
÷ Provided through asynchronous select structures
÷ An asynchronous select has two triggering alternatives, an entry clause or a
delay
3 The entry clause is triggered when sent a message
3 The delay clause is triggered when its time limit is reached
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Java Threads
÷ The concurrent units in Java are methods named run
3 A run method code can be in concurrent execution with other such methods
3 The process in which the run methods execute is called a thread
Class myThread extends Thread{
public void run () {&}
}
&
Thread myTh = new MyThread ();
myTh.start();
Thread Priorities
÷ A thread8s default priority is the same as the thread that create it
3 If main creates a thread, its default priority is NORM_PRIORITY
÷ Threads defined two other priority constants, MAX_PRIORITY and
MIN_PRIORITY
÷ The priority of a thread can be changed with the methods setPriority
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÷ The notify method is called to tell one waiting thread that the event it was
waiting has happened
÷ The notifyAll method awakens all of the threads on the object8s wait list
C# Threads
÷ Loosely based on Java but there are significant differences
÷ Basic thread operations
3 Any method can run in its own thread
3 A thread is created by creating a Thread object
3 Creating a thread does not start its concurrent execution; it must be
requested through the Start method
3 A thread can be made to wait for another thread to finish with Join
3 A thread can be suspended with Sleep
3 A thread can be terminated with Abort
Synchronizing Threads
÷ Three ways to synchronize C# threads
3 The Interlocked class
÷ Used when the only operations that need to be synchronized are incrementing
or decrementing of an integer
3 The lock statement
÷ Used to mark a critical section of code in a thread lock (expression) {& }
3 The Monitor class
÷ Provides four methods that can be used to provide more sophisticated
synchronization
C#9s Concurrency Evaluation
÷ An advance over Java threads, e.g., any method can run its own thread
÷ Thread termination is cleaner than in Java
÷ Synchronization is more sophisticated
Statement-Level Concurrency
÷ Objective: Provide a mechanism that the programmer can use to inform
compiler of ways it can map the program onto multiprocessor architecture
÷ Minimize communication among processors and the memories of the other
processors
High-Performance Fortran
÷ A collection of extensions that allow the programmer to provide information to
the compiler to help it optimize code for multiprocessor computers
÷ Specify the number of processors, the distribution of data over the memories of
those processors, and the alignment of data
Primary HPF Specifications
÷ Number of processors
!HPF$ PROCESSORS procs (n)
÷ Distribution of data
!HPF$ DISTRIBUTE (kind) ONTO procs :: identifier_list
3 kind can be BLOCK (distribute data to processors in blocks) or
CYCLIC (distribute data to processors one element at a time)
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Summary
÷ Concurrent execution can be at the instruction, statement, or subprogram level
÷ Physical concurrency: when multiple processors are used to execute concurrent
units
÷ Logical concurrency: concurrent united are executed on a single processor
÷ Two primary facilities to support subprogram concurrency: competition
synchronization and cooperation synchronization
÷ Mechanisms: semaphores, monitors, rendezvous, threads
÷ High-Performance Fortran provides statements for specifying how data is to be
distributed over the memory units connected to multiple processors
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Design Issues
÷ How are user-defined exceptions specified?
÷ Should there be default exception handlers for programs that do not provide
their own?
÷ Can built-in exceptions be explicitly raised?
÷ Are hardware-detectable errors treated as exceptions that can be handled?
÷ Are there any built-in exceptions?
÷ How can exceptions be disabled, if at all?
÷ How and where exception handlers specified and what are their scope?
÷ How is an exception occurrence bound to an exception handler?
÷ Can information about the exception be passed to the handler?
÷ Where does execution continue, if at all, after an exception handler completes
its execution? (continuation vs. resumption)
÷ Is some form of finalization provided?
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Throwing Exceptions
÷ Exceptions are all raised explicitly by the statement: throw [expression];
÷ The brackets are metasymbols
÷ A throw without an operand can only appear in a handler; when it appears, it
simply re-raises the exception, which is then handled elsewhere
÷ The type of the expression disambiguates the intended handler
Unhandled Exceptions
÷ An unhandled exception is propagated to the caller of the function in which it is
raised
÷ This propagation continues to the main function
Continuation
÷ After a handler completes its execution, control flows to the first statement after
the last handler in the sequence of handlers of which it is an element
÷ Other design choices
76
77
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Symbolic Logic
÷ Logic which can be used for the basic needs of formal logic:
3 Express propositions
3 Express relationships between propositions
3 Describe how new propositions can be inferred from other propositions
÷ Particular form of symbolic logic used for logic programming called predicate
calculus
Object Representation
÷ Objects in propositions are represented by simple terms: either constants or
variables
÷ Constant: a symbol that represents an object
÷ Variable: a symbol that can represent different objects at different times
3 Different from variables in imperative languages
Compound Terms
÷ Atomic propositions consist of compound terms
÷ Compound term: one element of a mathematical relation, written like a
mathematical function
3 Mathematical function is a mapping
3 Can be written as a table
Forms of a Proposition
÷ Propositions can be stated in two forms:
3 Fact: proposition is assumed to be true
3 Query: truth of proposition is to be determined
÷ Compound proposition:
3 Have two or more atomic propositions
3 Propositions are connected by operators
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Logical Operators
Name Symbol Example Meaning
Negation ø øa a not b
Conjunction ÷ a÷b a and b
Disjunction ø aøb a or b
Equivalence ú aúb a is equivalent to b
ù aùb a implies b
Implication
ü aüb b implies a
Quantifiers
Name Example Meaning
universal òX.P For all X, P is true
existential ôX.P There exists a value of X such that P is true
Clausal Form
÷ Too many ways to state the same thing
÷ Use a standard form for propositions
÷ Clausal form:
3 B1ø B2 ø&ø Bn ü A1÷ A2 ÷&÷ Am
3 means if all the As are true, then at least one B is true
÷ Antecedent: right side
÷ Consequent: left side
Predicate Calculus and Proving Theorems
÷ A use of propositions is to discover new theorems that can be inferred from
known axioms and theorems
÷ Resolution: an inference principle that allows inferred propositions to be
computed from given propositions
Resolution
÷ Unification: finding values for variables in propositions that allows matching
process to succeed
÷ Instantiation: assigning temporary values to variables to allow unification to
succeed
÷ After instantiating a variable with a value, if matching fails, may need to
backtrack and instantiate with a different value
Theorem Proving
÷ Basis for logic programming
÷ When propositions used for resolution, only restricted form can be used
÷ Horn clause - can have only two forms
3 Headed: single atomic proposition on left side
3 Headless: empty left side (used to state facts)
÷ Most propositions can be stated as Horn clauses
trace.
likes(jake,X),
likes(darcie,X).
List Structures
÷ Other basic data structure (besides atomic propositions we have already seen):
list
÷ List is a sequence of any number of elements
÷ Elements can be atoms, atomic propositions, or other terms (including other
lists)
[apple, prune, grape, kumquat]
[] (empty list)
[X | Y] (head X and tail Y)
Append Example
append([], List, List).
append([Head | List_1], List_2, [Head | List_3]) :-
append (List_1, List_2, List_3).
Reverse Example
reverse([], []).
reverse([Head | Tail], List) :-
reverse (Tail, Result),
append (Result, [Head], List).
Deficiencies of Prolog
÷ Resolution order control
÷ The closed-world assumption
÷ The negation problem
÷ Intrinsic limitations
83
UNIT-5
Functional Programming Languages & Scripting Language
Mathematical Functions
÷ A mathematical function is a mapping of members of one set, called the domain
set, to another set, called the range set
÷ A lambda expression specifies the parameter(s) and the mapping of a function in
the following form
ü(x) x * x * x
for the function cube (x) = x * x * x
Lambda Expressions
÷ Lambda expressions describe nameless functions
÷ Lambda expressions are applied to parameter(s) by placing the parameter(s)
after the expression
e.g., (ü(x) x * x * x)(2)
which evaluates to 8
Functional Forms
÷ A higher-order function, or functional form, is one that either takes functions as
parameters or yields a function as its result, or both
Function Composition
÷ A functional form that takes two functions as parameters and yields a function
whose value is the first actual parameter function applied to the application of
the second
Form: h f ° g
which means h(x)úf(g(x))
For f (x)úx + 2 and g (x)ú3 * x,
húf ° g yields (3 * x)+ 2
Apply-to-all
÷ A functional form that takes a single function as a parameter and yields a list of
values obtained by applying the given function to each element of a list of
parameters
Form:ñ
For h (x) ú x * x
ñ(h, (2, 3, 4)) yields (4, 9, 16)
3In an imperative language, operations are done and the results are stored in
variables for later use
3 Management of variables is a constant concern and source of complexity for
imperative programming
÷ In an FPL, variables are not necessary, as is the case in mathematics
Referential Transparency
÷ In an FPL, the evaluation of a function always produces the same result given
the same parameters
5.3 ML 3 CO5
÷ A static-scoped functional language with syntax that is closer to Pascal than to
LISP
÷ Uses type declarations, but also does type inferencing to determine the types of
undeclared variables
÷ It is strongly typed (whereas Scheme is essentially typeless) and has no type
coercions
÷ Includes exception handling and a module facility for implementing abstract
data types
÷ Includes lists and list operations
ML Specifics
÷ Function declaration form:
fun name (parameters) = body;
e.g., fun cube (x : int) = x * x * x;
3 The type could be attached to return value, as in
fun cube (x) : int = x * x * x;
3 With no type specified, it would default to
int (the default for numeric values)
3 User-defined overloaded functions are not allowed, so if we wanted a cube
function for real parameters, it would need to have a different name
3 There are no type coercions in ML
÷ ML selection
if expression then then_expression
else else_expression
85
sub n
| n < 10 = 0
| n > 100 = 2
| otherwise = 1
square x = x * x
- Works for any numeric type of x
Lists
÷ List notation: Put elements in brackets
e.g., directions = ["north", "south", "east", "west"]
÷ Length: #
e.g., #directions is 4
÷ Arithmetic series with the .. operator
e.g., [2, 4..10] is [2, 4, 6, 8, 10]
÷ Catenation is with ++
e.g., [1, 3] ++ [5, 7] results in [1, 3, 5, 7]
86
87
Pragmatics
A software system often consists of a number of subsystems controlled or
connected by a script. Scripting is a paradigm characterized by:
÷ Use of scripts to glue subsystems together.
÷ Rapid development and evolution of scripts.
÷ Modest efficiency requirements.
÷ Very high-level functionality in application-specific areas.
Key Concepts
The following concepts are characteristic of scripting languages:
÷ Very high-level string processing.
÷ Very high-level graphical user interface support.
÷ Dynamic typing.
88
89
÷ The following code computes the Greatest Common Divisor of two integers, m
and n:
p, q = m, n
while p % q != 0:
p, q = q, p % q
gcd = q
÷ Note the elegance of simultaneous assignment.
÷ Note also that indentation is required to indicate the extent of the loop body.
÷ The following code sums the numeric components of a list row, ignoring any
nonnumeric components:
sum = 0.0
for x in row:
if isinstance(x, (int, float)):
sum += x
PYTHON Exceptions
÷ The following code prompts the user to enter a numeric literal, and stores the
corresponding real number in num:
while True:
try:
response = raw_input("Enter a numeric literal: ")
num = float(response)
break
except ValueError:
print "Your response was ill-formed."
This while-command keeps prompting until the user enters a well-formed
numeric literal. The library procedure raw_input(...) displays the given prompt
and returns the user9s response as a string. The type conversion
88float(response)99 attempts to convert the response to a real number. If this type
conversion is possible, the following break sequencer terminates the loop. If not,
the type conversion throws a ValueError exception, control is transferred to the
ValueError exception handler, which displays a warning message, and finally
the loop is iterated again.
90
Procedural Abstraction
÷ PYTHON supports function procedures and proper procedures.
÷ The only difference is that a function procedure returns a value, while a proper
procedure returns nothing.
÷ Since PYTHON is dynamically typed, a procedure definition states the name but
not the type of each formal parameter. The corresponding argument may be of
different types on different calls to the procedure.
PYTHON Procedures
÷ The following function procedure returns the greatest common divisor of its two
arguments:
def gcd (m, n):
p, q = m, n
while p % q != 0:
p, q = q, p % q
return q
Here p and q are local variables.
÷ The following proper procedure takes a date represented by a triple and prints
that date in ISO format (e.g., 882000-01-0199):
def print_date (date):
y, m, d = date
if m = "Jan":
m=1
elif m = "Feb":
m=2
...
elif m = "Dec":
m = 12
print "%04d-%02d-%02d" % (y, m, d)
Here y, m, and d are local variables.
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Data Abstraction
÷ PYTHON has three different constructs relevant to data abstraction: packages,
modules, and classes.
÷ Modules and classes support encapsulation, using a naming convention to
distinguish between public and private components.
÷ A package is simply a group of modules. A module is a group of components
that may be variables, procedures, and classes.
÷ These components may be imported for use by any other module. All
components of a module are public, except those whose identifiers start with 88_99
which are private.
÷ A class is a group of components that may be class variables, class methods,
and instance methods. A procedure defined in a class declaration acts as an
instance method if its first formal parameter is named self and refers to an
object of the class being declared. Otherwise the procedure acts as a class
method.
÷ To achieve the effect of a constructor, we usually equip each class with an
initialization method named 88__init__99; this method is automatically called when
an object of the class is constructed. Instance variables are named using the
usual 88.99 Notation (as in self.attr), and they may be initialized by the
initialization method or by any other method. All components of a class are
public, except those whose identifiers start with 88__99, which are private.
PYTHON Class
÷ Consider the following class:
class Person:
def __init__ (self, sname, fname, gender, birth):
self.__surname = sname
self.__forename = fname
self.__female = (gender == "F" or gender == "f")
self.__birth = birth
def get_surname (self):
return self.__surname
def change_surname (self, sname):
self.__surname = sname
def print_details (self):
print self.__forename + " " + self.__surname
÷ This class is equipped with an initialization method and three other instance
methods, each of which has a self parameter and perhaps some other
parameters. In the following code:
dw = Person("Watt", "David", "M", 1946)
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the object construction on the right first creates an object of class Person; it
then passes the above arguments, together with a reference to the newly created
object, to the initialization method. The latter initializes the object9s instance
variables, which are named __surname, __forename, __female, and __birth (and
thus are all private).
÷ PYTHON supports multiple inheritance: a class may designate any number of
superclasses. Ambiguous references to class components are resolved by
searching the superclasses in the order in which they are named in the class
declaration.
÷ PYTHON9s support for object-oriented programming is developing but is not yet
mature. The use of the 88__99 naming convention to indicate privacy is clumsy and
error-prone; class components are public by default. Still more seriously,
variable components can be created (and deleted) at any time, by any method
and even by application code.
Separate Compilation
÷ PYTHON modules are compiled separately. Each module must explicitly import
every other module on which it depends. Each module9s source code is stored in
a text file.
÷ For example, a module named widget is stored in a file named widget.py. When
that module is first imported, it is compiled and its object code is stored in a file
named widget.pyc.
÷ Whenever the module is subsequently imported, it is recompiled only if the
source code has been edited in the meantime. Compilation is completely
automatic.
÷ The PYTHON compiler does not reject code that refers to undeclared identifiers.
Such code simply fails if and when it is executed.
Module Library
÷ PYTHON is equipped with a very rich module library, which supports string
handling, markup, mathematics and cryptography, multimedia, GUIs, operating
system services, Internet services, compilation, and so on.
÷ Unlike older scripting languages, PYTHON does not have built-in high-level
string processing or GUI support. Instead, the PYTHON module library provides
such functionality. For example, the re library module provides powerful string
matching facilities using regular expressions.
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