Abstract
It seems that there are some pragmatic advantages in using Abstract Semantic Algebras (ASAs) instead of λ-notation in denotational semantics. The values of ASAs correspond to “actions” (or “processes”), and the operators correspond to primitive ways of combining actions. There are simple ASAs for the various independent “facets” of actions: a functional ASA for data-flow, an imperative ASA for assignments, a declarative ASA for bindings, etc. The aim is to obtain general ASAs by systematic combination of these simple ASAs.
Here we specify a basic ASA that captures the common features of the functional, imperative and declarative ASAs — and highlights their differences. We discuss the correctness of ASA specifications, and sketch the proof of the consistency and (limiting) completeness of the functional ASA, relative to a simple model.
Some familiarity with denotational semantics and algebraic specifications is assumed.
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© 1984 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Mosses, P. (1984). A basic Abstract Semantic Algebra. In: Kahn, G., MacQueen, D.B., Plotkin, G. (eds) Semantics of Data Types. SDT 1984. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 173. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-13346-1_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-13346-1_4
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