Programs are abstract data types
- Resource Type
- Conference
- Authors
- Erwig, M.
- Source
- Proceedings 16th Annual International Conference on Automated Software Engineering (ASE 2001) Automated software engineering Automated Software Engineering, 2001. (ASE 2001). Proceedings. 16th Annual International Conference on. :400-403 2001
- Subject
- Computing and Processing
Costs
Calculus
Computer languages
Software maintenance
Programming profession
Program processors
Error correction
Reactive power
Synthesizers
Pattern matching
- Language
- ISSN
- 1938-4300
We propose to view programs as abstract data types and to perform program changes by applying well-defined operations on programs. The ADT view of programs goes beyond the approach of syntax-directed editors and proof-editors since it is possible to combine basic update operations into larger update programs that can be stored and reused. It is crucial for the design of update operations and their composition to know which properties they can preserve when they are applied to a program. The author argues in favor of the abstract data type view of programs, and presents a general framework in which different programming languages, update languages, and properties can be studied.