Introduces the fundamental constructs of contemporary programming languages

Critical evaluation of existing and future programming languages gives students the necessary tools for evaluating on their own.
An in-depth discussion of programming language structures, presenting a formal method of describing syntax, and introducing approaches to lexical and syntax analysis prepare students for the study of compiler design.
Coverage of advanced object-oriented topics and languages is integrated throughout.

Addresses the most up-to-date information in this field

New - New material on Swift, a contemporary programming language, is now part of several chapters.
New - Section on Delphi now included in Chapter 2.
New - Section on optional types is included in Chapter 6.
New and Updated - Content describing iterations in Python are part of Chapter 8.
Revised - To ensure the material remains relevant to students, sections on outdated languages (specifically Lua and Objective-C) have been removed.
Revised - Sections of Chapter 5 have been rewritten to improve and clarify the material.

Provides a historical context for learning different programming languages

Historical boxes and interviews with James Gosling, Larry Wall, Alan Cooper, Bjarne Stroustrup, and others put the material in context.
Valuable historical foundations that set out the origins, purposes, and contributions of the most important languages discussed in the rest of the text are introduced early on.
In-depth discussions of the design issues faced by the early versions of relevant languages are presented in later chapters.

Check out the preface for a complete list of features and what's new in this edition.

Concepts of Programming Languages, 12th edition

Need help?Get in touch