CPSC425 Principles of Programming Languages
Spring 2006

Instructor:

Dr. Adrienne Bloss

Office Hours:

Mon, Wed 2:15-3:00

Office:

201 Admin Bldg

Tues, Thurs 2:00-3:00

Phone:

375-2434

Also by appointment

E-Mail:

bloss@roanoke.edu

Course Objectives: This course is about the design and implementation of programming languages. Topics include formal descriptions of language syntax and semantics, lexical and syntax analysis, attributes and binding, data types and data abstraction, scope and lifetime, parameter passing, memory management, and exception handling. Object-oriented concepts will be re-examined and functional and logic programming will be introduced.

Prerequisite: CPSC 270 (Algorithms).

Text: Modern Programming Languages: A Practical Introduction, by Adam Brooks Webber, Franklin, Beedle & Associates, 2003. Supplementary materials may also be provided.

Course Topics and Schedule (Tentative)

Week of	Topic	Chapter(s) in text
Jan 16	Introduction Grammars and syntax	Ch 1, 2
Jan 23	Syntax and semantics Lexical and syntax analysis Language systems	Ch 3, 5
Jan 30	Introduction to ML TEST 1	Ch 4
Feb 6	Types More ML	Ch 6, 7
Feb 13	Polymorphism	Ch 8, 9
Feb 20	Scope Parameters Runtime memory models	Ch 10, 18, 12
Feb 27	Heap management; TEST 2	Ch 14
March 6	!!!!!!!! Spring Break !!!!!!!!
March 13	Java revisited: object orientation and exception handling	Ch 15, 16, 17
March 20	Introduction to Prolog	Ch 19
March 27	More Prolog	Ch 20
April 3	Cost Models; TEST 3	Ch 21
April 10	Formal semantics	Ch 23
April 17	History of computing: oral presentations	Ch 24
April 24	Wrap up and catch up

Homework Assignments: Homework assignments help students assimilate the material covered in the text and discussed in class. Homework will be assigned frequently, will vary in weight and difficulty, may be theoretical or applied in nature, and may or may not include programming. Unless otherwise stated:

• Homework assignments are due at the beginning of class on the specified date.
• Late assignments will not be accepted.
• Students are encouraged to work together on homework assignments. However, note that it is never permissible for a student to turn in work that is substantially someone else's as his or her own. See section on Academic Integrity below.

Oral Presentations: Near the end of the semester, each student will turn in a short paper (approximately five pages) and give an oral presenation on some aspect of the history of programming languages. Guidelines will be distributed and topics will be assigned in class.

MCSP Colloquium Series: The Math, Computer Science and Physics department offers a series of discussions that appeal to a broad range of interests related to these fields of study. These sessions will engage the community to think about ongoing research, novel applications and other issues that face our disciplines. Students in this class are required to participate in at least two of these sessions this semester. Within one week of each discussion the student attends, he or she will submit a one-page paper reflecting on the discussion. This semester's schedule is as follows:

• Tues, Jan 31 (7-8pm): Dr. Rachelle Ankney, "Geometers and Artists: Thinking, Seeing, and Stepping into the Fourth Dimension"
• Wed, March 22 (5:30-6:30pm): Dr. Adrienne Bloss, "Secrets and Spies: A Brief History of Cryptography"
• Thurs, March 30 (7-8pm): Dr. Quinton Nottingham -- Title TBA.
• Wed, April 5 (5:30-6:30pm): Dr. Jeffrey Spielman, "Something Fuzzy"
• Wed, April 19 (5:30-6:30pm): Dr. Jane Ingram, "The Limits of Computing"

Grading Policy: The course grade will determined as follows:

The instructor reserves the right to modify this scale in favor of the student.

Tentative Test Dates:

Test dates are subject to change with at least one week's notice.

Make-up Policy: Everyone is expected to take tests and the exam at the scheduled time. Make-ups will be given only for legitimate, documented absences that the instructor has been notified of ahead of time. Make-up tests, if given, may be oral.

Academic Integrity: Tests and exams are to be solely the work of the individual student. Students are permitted to consult with each other on assignments, but copying someone else's work or turning in work that is substantially someone else's is never allowed. This rule is meant to simulate the common real-life environment in which the exchange of ideas is encouraged but everyone is expected to be productive on an individual basis. Students are always encouraged to get help from the instructor.

Computer Use Policies: All students must abide by the Computer Use policies of Roanoke College. Failure to do so will result in involuntary withdrawal from the course.