A Uniform Approach to the Semantics of Concurrency
Abstract
The role of semantics is to allow reasoning about high-level programming languages through the use of models. Our research focuses on two approaches to semantics, Denotational Semantics and Operational Semantics, and their applications to languages supporting concurrent computation. In Denotational Semantics, mathematical models are studied which have the same operations on them as those that are available in the language (such as sequential composition and parallel composition, etc.) and a function is defined which assigns meanings in the model to programs in the language. This function should be compositional, i.e., a homomorphism with respect to the operations of the language. In this way, the meaning of a complicated program is made up as the composite of the meanings of its constituent parts, so the meanings of complicated programs can be understood in terms of the meanings of their simpler constituents. The other approach we study is Operational Semantics, where the meaning of a program is given by means of a Labelled Transition System which reflects the transitions of the program on an abstract machine. In the approach, and idealized implementation of the program is developed, and problems associated with implementation can be addressed in an abstract setting.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 31, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA246697
Entities
People
- Michael William Mislove
Organizations
- Tulane University of Louisiana