The REL Language Writer's Language: A Metalanguage for Implementing Specialized Application Languages

Author: Szolovits, Peter

Year: 1975

Degree: Dissertation (Ph.D.)

Advisor: Thompson, Frederick B.

Committee Member: Unknown, Unknown

Option: Engineering

DOI: 10.7907/599s-1283

Abstract

This thesis is an investigation into the task of implementing specialized computer application languages. It contains a discussion of the conceptual issues which make the development of specialized languages useful, and it motivates the selection of a scheme of syntax directed interpretation as the framework on which specialized languages are to be implemented. The thesis includes a description of the REL Language Writer's Language, in which the semantically primitive data types and operations and the extended syntax of object languages are to be specified. The definition of an illustrative object language for the storage and retrieval of personal bibliographic information is given. Also discussed is the relationship between this manner of language implementation and various alternative technologies.

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