Dataless Programming

R. M. Balzer

ResearchPublished 1967

Preliminary specifications and an example program of the Dataless Programming Language. Based on PL/1 syntax, this high-level computer programming language shares many features with APL and some with COBOL, and uses the "bug" (pointer) of L6. Basically, the program is a set of specifications of manipulations to be performed on a set of data values without regard to the details of data representation, accessing, space requirements, etc. These are handled in a separate phase of data declaration. All data and function statements are expressed in one simple, canonical form. Changing the data representation has no effect on the source program; thus, the data representation can be specified after the program is written. Facilities are provided for handling arrays, lists, double lists (with forward and backward links), rings, double rings, structures, and structures of other structures, such as arrays of lists of structures. Other data representations can be used by providing the necessary data-handling algorithms, which may include calls to external programs written in any language.

Document Details

  • Copyright: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Web Only
  • Year: 1967
  • Pages: 52
  • Document Number: RM-5290-ARPA

Citation

Chicago Manual of Style

Balzer, R. M., Dataless Programming. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1967. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_memoranda/RM5290.html.
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