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An Alternative to the Use of Patterns in String Processing

Authors:

Ralph E. Griswold and

David R. HansonAuthors Info & Claims

ACM Transactions on Programming Languages and Systems (TOPLAS), Volume 2, Issue 2

Pages 153 - 172

https://doi.org/10.1145/357094.357096

Published: 01 April 1980 Publication History

Abstract

SNOBOL4 is best known for its string processing facilities, which are based on patterns as data objects. Despite the demonstrated success of patterns, there are many shortcomings associated with their use. The concept of patterns in SNOBOL4 is examined and problem areas are discussed. An alternative method for high-level string processing is described. This method, implemented in the programming language Icon, employs generators, which are capable of producing alternative values. Generators, coupled with a goal-driven method of expression evaluation, provide the string processing facilities of SNOBOL4 without the disadvantages associated with patterns. Comparisons between SNOBOL4 and Icon are included and the broader implications of the new approach are discussed.

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Cited By

Wampler SGriswold R(2006)The implementation of generators and goal‐directed evaluation in iconSoftware: Practice and Experience10.1002/spe.438013060513:6(495-518)Online publication date: 30-Oct-2006
https://doi.org/10.1002/spe.4380130605
Sommerville I(2006)A pattern matching systemSoftware: Practice and Experience10.1002/spe.438012060412:6(517-530)Online publication date: 27-Oct-2006
https://doi.org/10.1002/spe.4380120604
Klint P(2005)Design considerations for string processing languagesA Study in String Processing Languages10.1007/3-540-16041-8_2(17-37)Online publication date: 30-May-2005
https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-16041-8_2
Show More Cited By

Index Terms

An Alternative to the Use of Patterns in String Processing
1. Software and its engineering
  1. Software notations and tools
    1. General programming languages
      1. Language features
        Concurrent programming structures
        Patterns
  2. Software organization and properties
    1. Software system structures
      1. Distributed systems organizing principles
        Client-server architectures
      2. Software architectures

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Published In

cover image ACM Transactions on Programming Languages and Systems

ACM Transactions on Programming Languages and Systems Volume 2, Issue 2

April 1980

126 pages

ISSN:0164-0925

EISSN:1558-4593

DOI:10.1145/357094

Issue’s Table of Contents

Copyright © 1980 ACM.

Publisher

Association for Computing Machinery

New York, NY, United States

Publication History

Published: 01 April 1980

Published in TOPLAS Volume 2, Issue 2

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Cited By

Wampler SGriswold R(2006)The implementation of generators and goal‐directed evaluation in iconSoftware: Practice and Experience10.1002/spe.438013060513:6(495-518)Online publication date: 30-Oct-2006
https://doi.org/10.1002/spe.4380130605
Sommerville I(2006)A pattern matching systemSoftware: Practice and Experience10.1002/spe.438012060412:6(517-530)Online publication date: 27-Oct-2006
https://doi.org/10.1002/spe.4380120604
Klint P(2005)Design considerations for string processing languagesA Study in String Processing Languages10.1007/3-540-16041-8_2(17-37)Online publication date: 30-May-2005
https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-16041-8_2
Klint P(2005)IntroductionA Study in String Processing Languages10.1007/3-540-16041-8_1(1-16)Online publication date: 30-May-2005
https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-16041-8_1
Emanuelson P(2005)From abstract model to efficient compilation of patternsInternational Symposium on Programming10.1007/3-540-11494-7_8(91-104)Online publication date: 27-May-2005
https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-11494-7_8
Griswold RHanson D(2003)String processingEncyclopedia of Computer Science10.5555/1074100.1074834(1694-1701)Online publication date: 1-Jan-2003
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.5555/1074100.1074834
Griswold RGriswold M(1996)History of the Icon programming languageHistory of programming languages---II10.1145/234286.1057830(599-624)Online publication date: 1-Jan-1996
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/234286.1057830
Griswold RGriswold M(1993)History of the Icon programming languageACM SIGPLAN Notices10.1145/155360.15536328:3(53-68)Online publication date: 1-Mar-1993
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/155360.155363
Griswold RGriswold MLee JSammet J(1993)History of the Icon programming languageThe second ACM SIGPLAN conference on History of programming languages10.1145/154766.155363(53-68)Online publication date: 1-Apr-1993
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/154766.155363
Gudeman D(1992)Denotational semantics of a goal-directed languageACM Transactions on Programming Languages and Systems10.1145/111186.10465914:1(107-125)Online publication date: 2-Jan-1992
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/111186.104659
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