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Theory and Practice of Action Semantics

BRICS Report Series

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Title Theory and Practice of Action Semantics
 
Creator Mosses, Peter D.
 
Description Action Semantics is a framework for the formal descriptionof programming languages. Its main advantage over other frameworksis pragmatic: action-semantic descriptions (ASDs) scale up smoothly torealistic programming languages. This is due to the inherent extensibilityand modifiability of ASDs, ensuring that extensions and changes tothe described language require only proportionate changes in its description.(In denotational or operational semantics, adding an unforeseenconstruct to a language may require a reformulation of the entire description.)After sketching the background for the development of action semantics,we summarize the main ideas of the framework, and provide a simpleillustrative example of an ASD. We identify which features of ASDsare crucial for good pragmatics. Then we explain the foundations ofaction semantics, and survey recent advances in its theory and practicalapplications. Finally, we assess the prospects for further developmentand use of action semantics.The action semantics framework was initially developed at the Universityof Aarhus by the present author, in collaboration with David Watt(University of Glasgow). Groups and individuals scattered around fivecontinents have since contributed to its theory and practice.
 
Publisher Aarhus University
 
Contributor —
 
Date 1996-06-23
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
—
 
Format application/pdf
 
Identifier https://tidsskrift.dk/brics/article/view/20056
10.7146/brics.v3i53.20056
 
Source BRICS Report Series; No 53 (1996): RS-53 Theory and Practice of Action Semantics
BRICS Report Series; No 53 (1996): RS-53 Theory and Practice of Action Semantics
1601-5355
0909-0878
 
Language eng
 
Relation https://tidsskrift.dk/brics/article/view/20056/17682
 
Rights Copyright (c) 2015 BRICS Report Series