Alma-0

Alma-0

Alma-0 is a small imperative programming language that includes a limited number of features inspired by the logical programming paradigm. These additions support and encourage declarative programming and make Alma-0 an attractive option for programmers used to imperative languages when facing problems that involve search. The designers of Alma-0 claim that search-oriented solutions built with it are substantially simpler than their counterparts written in purely imperative or logical programming style.

Overview

Since the designers of Alma-0 wanted to create a distinct and substantially simpler proposal than previous attempts at integration of declarative programming constructs (such as automatic backtracking) into imperative programming, the design of Alma-0 was guided by the following four principles:
* the logic-based extension should be "downward" compatible with the underlying imperative programming language
* the logic-based extension should be "upward" compatible with a future extension that will support constraint programming
* the constructs that will implement the extension should support and encourage declarative programming.
* the extension should be kept small (nine new features have been proposed and implemented)

In fact, Alma-0 could be viewed not only as a specific and concrete programming language proposal, but rather as an example of a "generic method" for extending any imperative programming language with features that support declarative programming.

The feasibility of the Alma-0 approach has been demonstrated through a full implementation of the language (including a description of its semantics) for a subset of Modula-2.

Features

The implemented features in Alma-0 include:
*use of boolean expressions as statements and vice versa
*a dual for the FOR statement that introduces non-determinism in the form of "choice points" and "backtracking"
*a FORALL statement that introduces a controlled form of iteration over the backtracking
*unification which, although limited to the use of equality as assignment, yields a new parameter-passing mechanism.

Imperative and logical programming modes

The Alma-0 designers claim that the assignment, which is usually shunned in pure declarative and logic programming, is actually needed in a number of natural situations, including for counting and recording purposes. They also affirm that the means of expression of such "natural" uses of assignment within the logic programming paradigm are unnatural.

External links

* [http://db.cwi.nl/projecten/project.php4?prjnr=69 CWI project home page]
* [http://www.cwi.nl/alma Compiler download]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • alma — alma …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • Alma qc — Alma (Québec) Pour les articles homonymes, voir Alma. Alma …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Alma — may refer to:MediaPrint media* Alma (novel), a 1922 novel by Oswald de Andrade * Alma (play), a drama by Joshua Sobol about Alma Mahler Werfel * Alma Cogan (novel), a 1991 novel by Gordon Burn *ALMA Magazine, Spanish language magazine for the… …   Wikipedia

  • ALMA — ist Alma (Vorname), ein weiblicher Vorname Alma (Kryptozoologie), ein Affenmensch Alma (Fluss), ein Fluss in der Ukraine Alma River, ein Fluss in (Neuseeland) Schlacht an der Alma, eine Schlacht 1854 im Krimkrieg Alma (Asteroid), der Asteroid 390 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Alma — ist die Bezeichnung für (390) Alma, der Asteroid 390 des Hauptgürtels Alma Doepel, Australisches Segelschiff Alma (Einheit), ein türkisches Volumenmaß Alma (Kryptozoologie), ein Affenmensch Alma Mater, unter anderem metaphorische Bezeichnung für… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • alma — sustantivo femenino 1. Parte espiritual del ser humano: Para muchas creencias lo más importante de la persona es el alma. Se confesó para que su alma quedara limpia de pecado. Sinónimo: espíritu, ánima. 2. Uso/registro: restringido. Principio… …   Diccionario Salamanca de la Lengua Española

  • Alma — Alma, NE U.S. city in Nebraska Population (2000): 1214 Housing Units (2000): 594 Land area (2000): 0.695809 sq. miles (1.802138 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.695809 sq. miles (1.802138 sq.… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • alma — alma, con toda el alma expr. muchísimo, con fuerza, con ahínco. ❙ «...y hablando con voz baja y pastosa que yo detestaba con toda mi alma.» Fernando G. Tola, Mis tentaciones. ❙ «Kus Kus le arreó una patada con toda su alma...» Álvaro Pombo, El… …   Diccionario del Argot "El Sohez"

  • alma — ‘Parte inmaterial de los seres humanos’, ‘persona o cosa que da vida o impulso a algo’ y ‘persona o habitante’. Es voz femenina: «Soy bálsamo de los cuerpos y consuelo de las almas» (Márquez Suerte [Esp. 1995]). Al comenzar por /a/ tónica, exige… …   Diccionario panhispánico de dudas

  • Alma — • A Hebrew word signifying a young woman , unmarried as well as married Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Alma     Alma     † …   Catholic encyclopedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”