CSc 71010: Programming Languages

3 hrs, 3 credits. Computer Science, City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center.

Details

Field	Value
Instructor:	Raffi Khatchadourian
Office:	1090H Hunter North Building
Email:	rkhatchadourian@gc.cuny.edu
Phone:	(212) 650-3988
Office hours:	F 3:00-5:00 pm or by appointment
Semester:	Fall 2021
Section:	CSc 71010-1 (55067)

Course Description

This course is intended to be a survey on the fundamental concepts and principles that underlie current and emerging methods, tools, and techniques for the design and implementation of modern programming languages. This includes the understanding and appreciation of topics in designing and implementing modern programming languages such as attribute grammars, operational, axiomatic, and denotational semantics, (static and dynamic) type systems, and functional programming and its relationship with mainstream Object-Oriented languages, frameworks, and libraries (APIs).

Topics

Please note that this schedule is tentative:

• Attribute grammars
• Operational semantics for Lisp
• Operational semantics for an imperative language
• Axiomatic semantics
• Type systems
• Concurrency and data structures for concurrent and distributed computing
• Streaming APIs for mainstream Object-Oriented languages
• Programming language concepts for Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) systems.

Suggested Previous Courses

• CSc 70010: Algorithms
• Computer Theory or equivalent.

Textbooks and Materials

While there are no required texts, there are readings from the books listed below. All books are available at the library, but please do not check them out from the GC library. I have entered a reservation request.

Title	Author	ISBN
Formal Specification of Programming Languages: A Panoramic Primer (copy of a few pages)	Pagan	9780133290523
Formal Syntax and Semantics of Programming Languages (online)	Slonneger and Kurtz	9780201656978
The Formal Semantics of Programming Languages: An Introduction	Winskel	9780262231695
The Study of Programming Languages	Stansifer	9780137269365
Types and Programming Languages	Pierce	9780262162098
Lisp 1.5 Programmer's Manual (ebook, online)	McCarthy et al.	9780262130110
Semantics with Applications: A Formal Introduction (online)	Nielson and Nielson	9780471929802
Core Java SE 9 for the Impatient (online)	Horstmann	9780134694726
Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (online)	Sussman and Abelson	9780070004849

Please also refer to my notes on type constraints.

Learning Goals

• Be able to write attribute grammars and derivations of simple programs.
• Be able to understand and define basic operational semantics.
• Be able to understand and define basic axiomatic semantics.
• Be able to formulate and prove type safety theorems.
• Be able to formulate and reason about key object oriented programming features.
• Be able to formulate and reason about key concurrency programming features.

Assessment

Category	Percentage
Assignments	20%
Project	25%
Participation	5%
Midterm Exam	25%
Final Exam	25%

Key Dates

Event	Date
No classes	Sep 3-8
No classes	Sep 15-16
Withdrawal deadline	Sep 15
Columbus Day	Oct 11
Midterm exam	Oct 27
Thanksgiving day observed	Nov 25-26
Reading day	Dec 14
Final exam	? (Dec 15-21)

Homework

The course will include several written assignments and one large programming project, possibly submitted in pieces. Each will be assigned in Blackboard along with submission instructions. Assignments will be uploaded to Blackboard and the programming project will be uploaded to GitHub classroom and submitted via gradescope. The exact instructions will follow. The project must include command-line instructions on how to run the program.

Notes

• Deadlines and due dates for assignments will be assigned in class.
• Late assignments will be penalized.
• No extensions will be given for extra credit assignments.
• Assignments are the result of individual effort unless otherwise noted (e.g., group projects).

Exams

Test make-ups will be given if and only if:

• the request is made sufficiently in advance of the test, and
• the make-up is scheduled prior to the next class.

Attendance

Attendance is expected for each and every class meeting. The instructor will start the class on time, and students are expected to be present on time.

Academic Violations

The classroom environment employed will be that of a professional one. While students may discuss course materials and assignments with others, any submitted work in this course must be the result of individual effort only. Students are strongly advised to read the following resources regarding academic integrity:

• Student Handbook
• Avoiding and Detecting Plagiarism

Email

Emails to the instructor must be via a CUNY GC email address for FERPA reasons. Please post all class-related discussion on Bb. Also, please ensure that your correct email address is entered into the CUNY Blackboard.

Bulletin Board

You should check the Blackboard site regularly, since all class material will be posted there. Please make sure you have configured Bb to use your CUNY email address. You are responsible for any email the instructors might send there.

Counseling & Wellness Services

The Wellness Center Student Counseling Services offers short-term individual and group counseling and psychotherapy, couples counseling, consultation and referral services, and a variety of programs and workshops relevant to graduate student life. More information can be found on the Counseling Services website.

Special Needs

Students with special needs should see me for accommodation.

ADA Compliance

It is Graduate Center and CUNY policy to provide appropriate accommodations to students with disabilities. Any student with a disability who may need accommodations in this class is advised to speak directly to the manager of Student Disability Services, located in Student Affairs, room 7301, or call 212-817-7400 as early in the semester as possible. All discussions will remain confidential. More information can be found on the Disabilities Services website.

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Sexual Misconduct

Every member of The City University of New York community, including students, employees and visitors, deserves the opportunity to live, learn and work free from sexual harassment, gender - based harassment and sexual violence. Accordingly, CUNY is committed to:

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Please review the Sexual Misconduct CUNY Policy.

Instructor Biography

Raffi Khatchadourian is an Assistant Professor in the Computer Science Department at Hunter College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY). He received his MS and PhD degrees in Computer Science from Ohio State University and BS degree in Computer Science from Monmouth University in New Jersey. Prior to joining CUNY, he was a Software Engineer at Apple, Inc. in Cupertino, California, where he worked on Digital Rights Management (DRM) for iTunes, iBooks, and the App store. He also developed distributed software that tested various features of iPhones, iPads, and iPods. His research focus is techniques for automated software evolution, particularly those related to automated refactoring and source code recommendation systems with the goal of easing the burden associated with correctly and efficiently evolving large and complex software.

Credits

Portions of this syllabus are based on those of Atanas Rountev, Neelam Soundarajan, Mike Bond, and Subash Shankar.