A LANGUAGE FOR AUTOMATED PROGRAMMING OF MATHEMATICAL APPLICATIONS

A new language system, the AUTOMATED PROGRAMMER, has been designed and implemented. It aims to automate a great deal of routine effort for scientific, engineering, and mathematical application programming. Its notation is modeled after conventional textbook mathematical representation so that mathematical expressions may be entered just as they appear in conventional solution specifications. It employs a flexible vocabulary and syntax that emulates technical English. This approach enhances self-documentation, diminishes programming error, and eases maintainability and verifiability. System design is highly user-oriented so as to make the system easy to learn and use. Programs are input via a two-dimensional screen editor using a four-case English, Greek, and mathematical symbol alphabet. Lexical restrictions are minimal, keyword synonyms are available, and various common synonymous syntactic structures, mimicking technical English, are acceptable. Matrix arithmetic is accomplished using standard textbook notation. Powerful input and output facilities are provided.