Au1100a.108 net.unix-wizards utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!npois!harpo!zeppo!wheps!ihnss!houxi!u1100a!rick Mon Jan 25 13:04:19 1982 Article about C The article about 'C' in the December Sigplan states ''It is the purpose of this paper to to begin a syntactic description of C that will reduce the number of semantic "hooks" required by incorporating many of the semantic idioms into the syntax, producing a clearer, more complete definition of C. ''The syntactic description was specifically scanned in an effort to maximize the correctness of the syntax, while minimizing the number of semantics associated with the grammar. The study focused on three areas of concern in Bell Labs' version of C, whose syntax description is listed in [Kernighan and Ritchie]: 1. Function definitions and declarations are very incomplete, requiring a large number of semantic check conditions implementable in the syntax. 2. Statement descriptions are confusing, and in one case, in error. 3. Data and function types are used haphazardly in the grammar, with no thought to trap the utilization and scope of storage class specifiers and types.'' The article contained a proposed reworked BNF grammar for the language. Unfortunately, it was unreadable because it had been printed on a line-printer with a weak ribbon. The results when the ACM people tried to offset print from that as a master were predictable. So I wrote to the authors and requested a copy with a readable BNF, and they sent me their original Technical Note, with the following letter: Dear Rick: Enclosed find a copy of our paper as you requested. In answer to your question, we have had no replies from anyone else at Bell Labs. Since the grammer is basically "untested", we would appreciate any irregularities or improvements/ suggestions you may have. Sincerely, /signed/ Patrick Fitzhorn How about it, people! Rick Thomas -- houxi!u1100a!rick PS: The authors' addresses are: Patrick A. Fitzhorn and Gerold R. Johnson Department of Computer Science Colorado State University Ft. Collins, Co. 80523 ----------------------------------------------------------------- gopher://quux.org/ conversion by John Goerzen of http://communication.ucsd.edu/A-News/ This Usenet Oldnews Archive article may be copied and distributed freely, provided: 1. There is no money collected for the text(s) of the articles. 2. The following notice remains appended to each copy: The Usenet Oldnews Archive: Compilation Copyright (C) 1981, 1996 Bruce Jones, Henry Spencer, David Wiseman.