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The semantics of Extended ML: A gentle introduction

Kahrs, Stefan, Sannella, Don, Tarlecki, Andrzej (1997) The semantics of Extended ML: A gentle introduction. Theoretical Computer Science, 173 (2). pp. 445-484. ISSN 0304-3975. (KAR id:21538)

Abstract

Extended ML (EML) is a framework for the formal development of modular Standard ML (SML) software systems. Development commences with a specification of the behaviour required and proceeds via a sequence of partial solutions until a complete solution, an executable SML program, is obtained. All stages in this development process are expressed in the EML language, an extension of SML with axioms for describing properties of module components. This is an overview of the formal definition of the EML language. To complement the full technical details presented elsewhere, it provides an informal explanation of the main ideas, gives the rationale for certain design decisions, and outlines some of the technical issues involved. EML is unusual in being built around a ``real'' programming language having a formally-defined syntax and semantics. Interesting and complex problems arise both from the nature of this relationship and from interactions between the features of the language.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled keywords: specification semantics
Subjects: Q Science > QA Mathematics (inc Computing science) > QA 76 Software, computer programming,
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences > School of Computing
Depositing User: Mark Wheadon
Date Deposited: 25 Jul 2009 17:45 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:59 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/21538 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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