Article

Free access

NIL: An integrated language and system for distributed programming

Authors:

Robert E. Strom,

Shaula YeminiAuthors Info & Claims

SIGPLAN '83: Proceedings of the 1983 ACM SIGPLAN symposium on Programming language issues in software systems

Pages 73 - 82

https://doi.org/10.1145/800226.806853

Published: 01 June 1983 Publication History

Abstract

This paper presents features of the NIL programming language which support the construction of distributed software systems: (1) a process model in which no pointers or shared data are visible, (2) interprocess communication via synchronous and asynchronous message passing, (3) compile-time typestate checking, guaranteeing module isolation and correct finalization of data, (4) dynamic binding of statically typed ports under the control of capabilities.

We discuss how these features are defined in NIL, illustrate the consequences of these decisions for the design of distributed systems, and compare these decisions with those made in other programming languages with similar objectives.

References

[1]

"Reference Manual for the Ada Programming Language", Draft Proposed ANSI Standard Document, ACM AdaTec, July 1982.

[2]

Fabry, F. S., "Capability Based Addressing", CACM 17, 7 July 1974.

Digital Library

[3]

Hailpern, B. and Owicki S., "Modular Verification of Concurrent Programs", IBM Research Report RC 9130, 1981.

[4]

Halim, N., and Pershing, J., "A New Language for Writing Portable and Secure Systems", IBM Research Report RC 9650

[5]

Herlihy, M. and Liskov B., "A Value Transmission Method for Abstract Data Types", ACM TOPLAS Vol. 4 No. 4, October 1982.

Digital Library

[6]

Kernighan, B., and Ritchie, D., The C Programming Language, Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1978.

Digital Library

[7]

Liskov, B. and Snyder A., "Structured Exception Handling" Computation Structures Group Memo 155, MIT, December 1977.

[8]

Liskov, B., Scheifler, R., "Guardians and Actions: Linguistic Support for Robust, Distributed Programs", Ninth Symposium on Principles of Programming Languages, Albuquerque, 1982.

Digital Library

[9]

Liskov, B., "On Linguistic Support for Distributed Programs", IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, 8, 3, May 1982.

[10]

NIL Reference Manual, IBM T. J. Watson Research Laboratory, RC 9732.

[11]

Parr, F. N., and Strom, R. E., "A High Level Language for Distributed Systems Programming, IBM Systems Journal, April, 1983.

Digital Library

[12]

Pratt, V. R., "On the Composition of Processes", Ninth Symposium on Principles of Programming Languages, Albuquerque, January 1983.

Digital Library

[13]

Schwartz, R. L., and Melliar-Smith P. M., "The Finalization Operation for Abstract Data Types", Proc. IEEE 5th International Conference on Software Engineering, March, 1981.

Digital Library

[14]

Sherman, M., Hisgen, A. and Rosenberg J., "A Methodology for Programming Abstract Data Types in Ada", Proc. AdaTEC Conference on ADA, October 1982.

Digital Library

[15]

Strom, R. E., "Mechanisms for Compile-Time Enforcement of Security", Tenth Symposium on Principles of Programming Languages, Austin, January 1983.

Digital Library

[16]

Wegner, P., "On the Unification of Data and Program Abstraction in ADA", Tenth Symposium on Principles of Programming Languages, Austin, January 1983.

Digital Library

[17]

Wulf, W. A., et al., "HYDRA the Kernel of a Multiprocessor Operating System" CACM 17, 6 June 1974.

Digital Library

Cited By

Wei YWu C(2005)Integrating RPC and message passing for distributed programmingDCE — The OSF Distributed Computing Environment Client/Server Model and Beyond10.1007/3-540-57306-2_35(192-206)Online publication date: 3-Jun-2005
https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-57306-2_35
Sheu PSheu P(1997)Programming and CodingSoftware Engineering and Environment10.1007/978-1-4615-5907-8_5(93-128)Online publication date: 1997
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5907-8_5
Korfhage WGoldberg A(1995)Hermes language experiencesSoftware—Practice & Experience10.1002/spe.438025040425:4(389-402)Online publication date: 1-Apr-1995
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1002/spe.4380250404
Show More Cited By

Index Terms

NIL: An integrated language and system for distributed programming
1. Computing methodologies
  1. Distributed computing methodologies
    1. Distributed programming languages
2. Software and its engineering
  1. Software creation and management
    1. Software development techniques
      1. Reusability
  2. Software notations and tools
    1. General programming languages
      1. Language types
        Distributed programming languages

Recommendations

Negative UV-NIL (NUV-NIL) - A mix-and-match NIL and UV strategy for realisation of nano- and micrometre structures

This paper presents a novel strategy for aligning patterns created with nano-imprint lithography (NIL) and UV lithography, similar to a mix-and-match process, which allows for the fabrication of large and small features in a single layer of resist. The ...
Imprinted polymer stamps for UV-NIL

Thermal step and stamp nanoimprint lithography (SSIL) offers an alternative to fabricate transparent polymer stamps for UV-imprinting. The fabrication process does not require any other subsequent steps, e.g. dry etching or anti adhesive coating. In ...
NIL: An integrated language and system for distributed programming

This paper presents features of the NIL programming language which support the construction of distributed software systems: (1) a process model in which no pointers or shared data are visible, (2) interprocess communication via synchronous and ...

Comments

Please enable JavaScript to view thecomments powered by Disqus.

Information & Contributors

Information

Published In

cover image ACM Conferences

SIGPLAN '83: Proceedings of the 1983 ACM SIGPLAN symposium on Programming language issues in software systems

June 1983

230 pages

ISBN:0897911083

DOI:10.1145/800226

ACM SIGPLAN Notices Volume 18, Issue 6
June 1983
219 pages
ISSN:0362-1340
EISSN:1558-1160
DOI:10.1145/872728
Issue’s Table of Contents

Copyright © 1983 Authors.

Sponsors

SIGPLAN: ACM Special Interest Group on Programming Languages

Publisher

Association for Computing Machinery

New York, NY, United States

Publication History

Published: 01 June 1983

Permissions

Request permissions for this article.

Request Permissions

Check for updates

Qualifiers

Article

Conference

VEE05

Sponsor:

SIGPLAN

VEE05: First International Conference on Virtual Execution Environments

June 27 - 29, 1983

California, San Francisco, USA

Contributors

Other Metrics

View Article Metrics

Bibliometrics & Citations

Bibliometrics

Article Metrics

41
Total Citations
View Citations
375
Total Downloads

Downloads (Last 12 months)111
Downloads (Last 6 weeks)11

Reflects downloads up to 21 Nov 2024

Other Metrics

View Author Metrics

Citations

Cited By

Wei YWu C(2005)Integrating RPC and message passing for distributed programmingDCE — The OSF Distributed Computing Environment Client/Server Model and Beyond10.1007/3-540-57306-2_35(192-206)Online publication date: 3-Jun-2005
https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-57306-2_35
Sheu PSheu P(1997)Programming and CodingSoftware Engineering and Environment10.1007/978-1-4615-5907-8_5(93-128)Online publication date: 1997
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5907-8_5
Korfhage WGoldberg A(1995)Hermes language experiencesSoftware—Practice & Experience10.1002/spe.438025040425:4(389-402)Online publication date: 1-Apr-1995
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1002/spe.4380250404
Barcellos AFilho VSchramm JGeyer C(1994)The HetNOS network operating systemACM SIGOPS Operating Systems Review10.1145/191525.19153428:4(34-47)Online publication date: 1-Oct-1994
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/191525.191534
Auerbach JGopal ARussell JKennedy M(1994)Concert/C: supporting distributed programming with language extensions and a portable multiprotocol runtime14th International Conference on Distributed Computing Systems10.1109/ICDCS.1994.302405(152-159)Online publication date: 1994
https://doi.org/10.1109/ICDCS.1994.302405
Strom RYellin D(1993)Extending Typestate Checking Using Conditional Liveness AnalysisIEEE Transactions on Software Engineering10.1109/32.23201319:5(478-485)Online publication date: 1-May-1993
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1109/32.232013
Soares P(1992)On remote procedure callProceedings of the 1992 conference of the Centre for Advanced Studies on Collaborative research - Volume 210.5555/962260.962276(215-267)Online publication date: 9-Nov-1992
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.5555/962260.962276
Auerbach JBacon DGoldberg AGoldszmidt GKennedy MLowry ARussell JSilverman WStrom RYellin DYemini S(1991)High-level language support for programming distributed systemsProceedings of the 1991 conference of the Centre for Advanced Studies on Collaborative research10.5555/962111.962128(173-196)Online publication date: 28-Oct-1991
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.5555/962111.962128
Bruynooghe RParker JRowles J(1991)PSS: A System for Process EnactmentProceedings. First International Conference on the Software Process,10.1109/ICSP.1991.664345(128-141)Online publication date: 1991
https://doi.org/10.1109/ICSP.1991.664345
Clamen SLeibengood LNettles SWing J(1990)Reliable distributed computing with Avalon/Common LispProceedings. 1990 International Conference on Computer Languages10.1109/ICCL.1990.63772(169-179)Online publication date: 1990
https://doi.org/10.1109/ICCL.1990.63772
Show More Cited By

View Options

View options

PDF

View or Download as a PDF file.

eReader

View online with eReader.

Login options

Check if you have access through your login credentials or your institution to get full access on this article.

Full Access

Get this Publication

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

View Table of Contents