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A layered semantics for a parallel object-oriented language

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Formal Aspects of Computing

Abstract

We develop a denotational semantics for POOL, a parallel object-oriented programming language. The main contribution of this semantics is an accurate mathematical model of the most important concept in object-oriented programming: the object. This is achieved by structuring the semantics in layers working at three different levels: for statements, objects and programs. For each of these levels we define a specialized mathematical domain of processes, which we use to assign a meaning to each language construct. This is done in the mathematical framework of complete metric spaces. We also define operators that translate between these domains. At the program level we give a precise definition of the observable input/output behaviour of a particular program, which could be used at a later stage to decide the issue of full abstractness. We illustrate our semantic techniques by first applying them to a toy language similar to CSP.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Philips Research Laboratories, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

    Pierre America

  2. Centre for Mathematics and Computer Science, Kruislaan 413, 1098, SJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Jan Rutten

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  1. Pierre America
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  2. Jan Rutten
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Additional information

This paper describes work done in ESPRIT Basic Research Action 3020,Integration.

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America, P., Rutten, J. A layered semantics for a parallel object-oriented language. Formal Aspects of Computing 4, 376–408 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01211312

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