Classification Scheme for Declarative Programming Languages: Syntax, Semanticsand Operational Models

摘要

The paper discusses how to classify declarative programming languages, includingfunctional logic ones, on the basis of declarative semantics. Four base paradigms are identified. Each stands for an uncombined language approach, such as Horn logic programming. Other declarative paradigms are explained as combinations of these base paradigms. The paper presents a uniform framework in which the declarative semantics of integrated paradigms is investigated. The combinations are restricted to pairs of base paradigms. A particular result is a new semantics for the so called guarded functional programming which integrates functional with Horn clause programming. Furthermore, a framework for the operational models of declarative paradigms is presented which is based on syntactic inference systems. An important insight is that the operational models for integrated paradigms can be obtained by integrating the operational models of the involved base paradigms. The relations between constraint solving and unification are investigated, resulting in a general operational model called constraint deduction. (Copyright (c) GMD 1990.)