The Formal Definition of the BASIC Language
Open Access
- 1 February 1972
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in The Computer Journal
- Vol. 15 (1) , 37-41
- https://doi.org/10.1093/comjnl/15.1.37
Abstract
This paper presents a proposal for the formal definition of the Basic Language (Dartmouth College, 1970), based on the method of definition developed by Lucas et al. (1968) and as extended by Lee and Wu (1969). This version of the formal definition of the Basic Language does not include consideration of either the semantics or syntax of MAT statements. Similarly, the definitions of some of the more esoteric features of certain implementations have been omitted pending the resolution of the fundamental features of the language. In summary, the definition is divided into three parts: 1. The concrete syntax, the definition of the syntactic form of the language as used by the programmer. 2. The abstract syntax, the definition of the essential structural form of the language which is to be used as input to the interpreter, and 3. The definitions of instructions and functions which are used by the interpreter to ‘execute’ a Basic program.Keywords
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