[Axiom-developer] [Aldor] (new)

[Bill Page]

Changes http://wiki.axiom-developer.org/Aldor/diff
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Aldor is a computer programming language, like Scheme, Java or C#.

The site http://www.aldor.org provides information about the Aldor
programming language, its compiler and libraries, as well as downloads
for software and documentation.

>From a technical point of perspective, Aldor is a type-complete,
strongly-typed, imperative programming language with a two-level
object model of categories and domains (similar to the concept of
interfaces and classes in Java). Types and functions are first class
entities allowing them to be constructed and manipulated within
Aldor programs just like any other value. Pervasive use of dependent
types allows static checking of dynamic objects and provides
object-oriented features such as parametric polymorphism.  

What does this mean for a normal user? Aldor solves many difficulties
encountered with certain widely-used object-oriented programming
languages. It allows programs to use a natural style, combining the
more attractive and powerful properties of functional, object-oriented
and aspect-oriented styles.

Over View

The original motivation for Aldor was to provide an improved
extension language for the AXIOM computer algebra system: The
language had to be expressive enough to capture naturally the
high-level objects and relationships which arise in modern
mathematics. An implementation had to be efficient enough for
intense symbolic and numeric computing needs. And the language
had to be modular enough to allow large libraries of independently
developed facilities to be used together in any combination.

The formulation of the programming language has tried to balance
the mathematical desire for generality and uniformity, on one
hand, with the practical requirements of the most demanding
symbolic and numeric computation, on the other. For example,
types and functions are first class values, and dependent
types are fully supported, but the precise formulation of has
been carefully arranged to allow effective optimizaiton. Post
facto extensions allow libraries to be built in layers by
enriching existing objects, rather than introducing a
proliferation of variations. Both object-oriented and
functional programming styles are reconstructed naturally
form these basic semantic elements.

The Aldor compiler can be used to generate code which runs
within the Axiom system, separately, or linked into other
applications.

The compiler was available as part of the Axiom system from
1994 to 1999 and was then released as an independent language.

During its development at IBM Research, this programming
language was known internally as *A#* (A sharp) however that
name now refers to a version of Ada. The interim name "AXIOM-XL"
(Axiom Library Compiler) was used for a short period by NAG
before the legal trade name "Aldor" was established.

See also: [Aldor For Axiom]
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