Action Semantics
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Action Semantics
Action semantics is a framework for the formal specification of semantics of programming languages invented by David Watt and Peter D. Mosses in the 1990s. It is a mixture of denotational, operational and algebraic semantics. Action semantics aim to be pragmatic, and action-semantic descriptions (ASDs) are designed to scale up to handle realistic programming languages. This is aided by the extensibility and modifiability of ASDs. This helps to ensure that extensions and changes do not require too many changes in the description. This is in contrast to the typical case when extending denotational or operational semantics, which may require reformulation of the entire description. The action semantics framework was originally developed at the University of Aarhus and the University of Glasgow The University of Glasgow (abbreviated as ''Glas.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals; ) is a Public university, public research university in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded by papal ...
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Formal Specification
In computer science, formal specifications are mathematically based techniques whose purpose is to help with the implementation of systems and software. They are used to describe a system, to analyze its behavior, and to aid in its design by verifying key properties of interest through rigorous and effective reasoning tools. These specifications are ''formal'' in the sense that they have a syntax, their semantics fall within one domain, and they are able to be used to infer useful information. Motivation In each passing decade, computer systems have become increasingly more powerful and, as a result, they have become more impactful to society. Because of this, better techniques are needed to assist in the design and implementation of reliable software. Established engineering disciplines use mathematical analysis as the foundation of creating and validating product design. Formal specifications are one such way to achieve this in software engineering reliability as once predicted. O ...
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Formal Semantics Of Programming Languages
In programming language theory, semantics is the rigorous mathematical study of the meaning of programming languages. Semantics assigns computational meaning to valid string (computer science), strings in a programming language syntax. It is closely related to, and often crosses over with, the Semantics of logic, semantics of mathematical proofs. Semantics describes the processes a computer follows when Execution (computing), executing a program in that specific language. This can be done by describing the relationship between the input and output of a program, or giving an explanation of how the program will be executed on a certain computer platform, platform, thereby creating a model of computation. History In 1967, Robert W. Floyd published the paper ''Assigning meanings to programs''; his chief aim was "a rigorous standard for proofs about computer programs, including formal verification, proofs of correctness, equivalence, and termination". Floyd further wrote: A semant ...
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David Watt (computer Scientist)
David Anthony Watt (born 5 November 1946) is a British computer scientist. Watt is a professor at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. With Peter Mosses he developed action semantics, a combination of denotational semantics, operational and algebraic semantics. He currently teaches a third year programming language A programming language is a system of notation for writing computer programs. Programming languages are described in terms of their Syntax (programming languages), syntax (form) and semantics (computer science), semantics (meaning), usually def ...s course, and a postgraduate course on algorithms and data structures. He is recognisable around campus for his more formal attire compared to the department's normally casual dress code. References External links Home page 1946 births Living people British computer scientists Academics of the University of Glasgow Formal methods people Place of birth missing (living people) {{formalmethods-stub ...
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Peter D
Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a surname (including a list of people with the name) Culture * Peter (actor) (born 1952), stage name Shinnosuke Ikehata, a Japanese dancer and actor * ''Peter'' (1934 film), a film directed by Henry Koster * ''Peter'' (2021 film), a Marathi language film * "Peter" (''Fringe'' episode), an episode of the television series ''Fringe'' * ''Peter'' (novel), a 1908 book by Francis Hopkinson Smith * "Peter" (short story), an 1892 short story by Willa Cather * ''Peter'' (album), a 1972 album by Peter Yarrow * ''Peter'', a 1993 EP by Canadian band Eric's Trip * "Peter", 2024 song by Taylor Swift from '' The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology'' Animals * Peter (Lord's cat), cat at Lord's Cricket Ground in London * Peter (chief mouser), ...
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Denotational Semantics
In computer science, denotational semantics (initially known as mathematical semantics or Scott–Strachey semantics) is an approach of formalizing the meanings of programming languages by constructing mathematical objects (called ''denotations'') that describe the meanings of Expression (computer science), expressions from the languages. Other approaches providing formal semantics of programming languages include axiomatic semantics and operational semantics. Broadly speaking, denotational semantics is concerned with finding mathematical objects called domain theory, domains that represent what programs do. For example, programs (or program phrases) might be represented by partial functionsDana S. ScottOutline of a mathematical theory of computation Technical Monograph PRG-2, Oxford University Computing Laboratory, Oxford, England, November 1970.Dana Scott and Christopher Strachey. ''Toward a mathematical semantics for computer languages'' Oxford Programming Research Group Techn ...
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Operational Semantics
Operational semantics is a category of formal programming language semantics in which certain desired properties of a program, such as correctness, safety or security, are verified by constructing proofs from logical statements about its execution and procedures, rather than by attaching mathematical meanings to its terms (denotational semantics). Operational semantics are classified in two categories: structural operational semantics (or small-step semantics) formally describe how the ''individual steps'' of a computation take place in a computer-based system; by opposition natural semantics (or big-step semantics) describe how the ''overall results'' of the executions are obtained. Other approaches to providing a formal semantics of programming languages include axiomatic semantics and denotational semantics. The operational semantics for a programming language describes how a valid program is interpreted as sequences of computational steps. These sequences then ''are'' the ...
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Algebraic Semantics (computer Science)
In computer science, algebraic semantics is a formal approach to programming language theory that uses algebraic methods for defining, specifying, and reasoning about the behavior of programs. It is a form of axiomatic semantics that provides a mathematical framework for analyzing programs through the use of algebraic structures and equational logic. Algebraic semantics represents programs and data types as algebras—mathematical structures consisting of sets equipped with operations that satisfy certain equational laws. This approach enables rigorous formal verification of software by treating program properties as algebraic properties that can be proven through mathematical reasoning. A key advantage of algebraic semantics is its ability to separate the specification of what a program does from how it is implemented, supporting abstraction and modularity in software design. Syntax The syntax of an algebraic specification is formulated in two steps: (1) defining a form ...
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University Of Aarhus
Aarhus University (, abbreviated AU) is a public research university. Its main campus is located in Aarhus, Denmark. It is the second largest and second oldest university in Denmark. The university is part of the Coimbra Group, the Guild, and Utrecht Network of European universities and is a member of the European University Association. The university was founded in 1928 in Aarhus, Denmark. It comprises five faculties, Arts, Natural Sciences, Technical Sciences, Health, and Business and Social Sciences, and a total of twenty-seven departments. It is home to over thirty internationally recognised research centres, including fifteen centres of excellence funded by the Danish National Research Foundation. The university's alumni include Bjarne Stroustrup, the inventor of programming language C++; Queen Margrethe II of Denmark; King Frederik X of Denmark; and Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former prime minister of Denmark and secretary general of NATO. Nobel Laureate Jens Christian Sk ...
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University Of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow (abbreviated as ''Glas.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals; ) is a Public university, public research university in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded by papal bull in , it is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four Ancient universities of Scotland, ancient universities. Along with the universities of University of St Andrews, St Andrews, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, and University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, the university was part of the Scottish Enlightenment during the 18th century. Glasgow is the List of universities in Scotland, second largest university in Scotland by total enrolment and -largest in the United Kingdom. In common with universities of the pre-modern era, Glasgow originally educated students primarily from wealthy backgrounds; however, it became a pioneer in British higher education in the 19th century by also providing for the needs o ...
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Formal Specification Languages
Formal, formality, informal or informality imply the complying with, or not complying with, some set of requirements ( forms, in Ancient Greek). They may refer to: Dress code and events * Formal wear, attire for formal events * Semi-formal attire, attire for semi-formal events * Informal attire, more controlled attire than casual but less than formal * Formal (university), official university dinner, ball or other event * School formal, official school dinner, ball or other event Logic and mathematics *Formal logic, or symbolic logic ** Informal logic, the complement, whose definition and scope is contentious *Formal fallacy, reasoning of invalid structure ** Informal fallacy, the complement *Informal mathematics, also called naïve mathematics *Formal cause, Aristotle's intrinsic, determining cause *Formal power series, a generalization of power series without requiring convergence, used in combinatorics * Formal calculation, a calculation which is systematic, but without a ...
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