Soviet Cybernetics Technology

IX, ALGEC-Summary and Critique

Niklaus Wirth

ResearchPublished 1967

A summary and evaluation of the preliminary and final versions of ALGEC, the Soviets' Algorithmic Language for Economics Problems. A computer programming language for economics data processing, ALGEC is an almost pure extension of ALGOL 60. The deletions are in conformity with the IFIP-approved SUBSET ALGOL. The extensions add features obviously needed to handle nonnumeric data. While not a complete list processing language, ALGEC appears to be adequate for business data processing, with the possible exception of decimal arithmetric. Also, input-output transfers cannot be identified by source. The retention of nested strings from ALGOL is an unnecessary complication, and the use of COBOL-style data structures (lists) precludes the handling of data with complex and dynamically varying relationships. Definitions lack precision, and the semantic and syntactic rules are unrealistic.

Document Details

  • Copyright: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Web Only
  • Year: 1967
  • Pages: 51
  • Document Number: RM-5157-PR

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Wirth, Niklaus, Soviet Cybernetics Technology: IX, ALGEC-Summary and Critique. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1967. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_memoranda/RM5157.html.
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