Concatenative programming language: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 22:40, 20 July 2013

Revision as of 10:22, 13 September 2013

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{{Programming paradigms}}

A '''concatenative programming language''' is a [[Point-free programming|point-free]] programming language in which all expressions denote [[Function (mathematics)|functions]] and the [[juxtaposition (mathematics)|juxtaposition]] of expressions denotes [[function composition]].<ref name="dobbscodetalk">{{cite web|url=http://drdobbs.com/blogs/architecture-and-design/228701299 |title=Christopher Diggins: What is a concatenative language |publisher=Drdobbs.com |date=2008-12-31 |accessdate=2013-07-01}}</ref> TheConcatenative combinationprogramming ofreplaces a[[function compositionalapplication]], which is common in other programming styles, with [[Semanticsfunction ofcomposition programming(computer languagesscience)|semanticsfunction composition]] withas athe default way to build [[Syntaxsubroutine]]s. ofFunctions programmingand languagesprocedures written in concatenative style typically don't represent the data structures they operate on with explicit names or [[identifier#In computer science|syntaxidentifiers]]; thatinstead, mirrorsa suchfunction is defined as a semantics[[pipeline makes(software)|pipeline]] concatenative- languagesa highlysequence amenableof tooperations algebraicthat manipulation.<ref>[http://www.latrobe.edu.au/philosophy/phimvt/joy/j00rat.htmltake parameters from an implicit data structure on which Rationaleall forfunctions Joyoperate, aand functionalreturn language]{{deadthe link|date=Julyfunction 2013}}</ref>results to that shared structure.

The combination of a compositional [[Semantics of programming languages|semantics]] with a [[Syntax of programming languages|syntax]] that mirrors such a semantics makes concatenative languages highly amenable to algebraic manipulation.<ref>[http://www.latrobe.edu.au/philosophy/phimvt/joy/j00rat.html Rationale for Joy, a functional language]{{dead link|date=July 2013}}</ref>

Much of the original work on concatenative language theory was carried out by [[Manfred von Thun]].