arXiv subjects

Benjamin Kowarsch

Publications and source records attributed to Benjamin Kowarsch.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2020

A Proposal for a Revision of ISO Modula-2

The Modula-2 language was first specified in [Wir78] by N. Wirth at ETH Zurich in 1978 and then revised several times. The last revision [Wir88] was published in 1988. The resulting language reports included ambiguities and lacked a comprehensive standard library. To resolve the ambiguities and specify a comprehensive standard library an ISO/IEC working group was formed and commenced work in 1987. A base standard was then ratified and published as IS 10514-1 in 1996 [JTC96]. Several conforming compilers have since been developed. At least five remain available of which at least three are actively maintained and one has been open sourced. Meanwhile, various deficiencies of the standard have become apparent but since its publication, no revision and no maintenance has been carried out. This paper discusses some of the deficiencies of IS 10514-1 and proposes a limited revision that could be carried out with moderate effort. The scope of the paper has been deliberately limited to the core language of the base standard and therefore excludes the standard library.

cs.PL↗

arXiv2018

On the Maintenance of Classic Modula-2 Compilers

The classic Modula-2 language was specified in [Wir78] by N.Wirth at ETH Zürich in 1978. The last revision [Wir88] was published in 1988. Many computer science books of that era used Modula-2 in programming examples. Many of these are still valuable resources in computer science education today. To compile and run the examples therein, it is essential to have compilers available that follow the classic Modula-2 language definition and run on modern computer hardware and operating systems. Although most Modula-2 compilers of that era have disappeared, a few have since been re-released under open source licenses. Whilst the original authors have long ceased work on these compilers, new maintainers have stepped in. This paper gives recommendations for maintenance on classic Modula-2 compilers while balancing the aim to modernise with the need to maintain the capability to compile programming examples in the literature with minimal effort. Nevertheless, the principles, methods and conclusions presented are adaptable to maintenance on other languages.

cs.PL↗