An Experiment with a User Manual of a Programming Language Based on a Denotational Semantics

TL;DR

This paper presents a user manual for a programming language based on denotational semantics, aiming to bridge theoretical models with practical documentation for professional programmers.

Contribution

It introduces a manual style that combines denotational models with accessible explanations, tailored for professional programmers rather than amateurs.

Findings

Manual effectively explains the language's denotational semantics.

Designed for professional programmers, not beginners.

Provides a practical example with the Lingua language.

Abstract

Denotational models should provide an opportunity for the revision of current practices seen in the manuals of programming languages. New styles should on one hand base on denotational models but on the other - do not assume that today readers are acquainted in this field. A manual should, therefore, provide some basic knowledge and notation needed to understand the definition of a programming language written in a new style. At the same time - I strongly believe that - it should be written for professional programmers rather than for amateurs. The role of a manual is not to teach the skills of programming. Such textbooks are, of course, necessary, but they should tell the readers what the programming is about rather than the technicalities of a concrete language. The paper contains an example of a manual for a virtual programming language Lingua developed in our project.