25 0 BOOK REVIEWS

Reference to fourth and sixth paragraphs
I still maintain strongly that it is critical for a
definition to require that its translators detect all
compile-time detectable error, and that provision
for detecting run-time errors be made as well.
The ongoing efforts of the DOD in developing a
single language for their varied needs supports
this position. The IRON MAN Requirements
specification dated 14 January 1977 asserts that:
‘Translators shall be responsible for reporting
errors that are detectable at translation time.
Translators shall do full syntax and type checking,
shall check that all language imposed restrictions
are met. A representative set of translation time
diagnostic and warning messages shall be included
in the language definition.’
Reference to f;fth paragraph
Certainly not all messages are equally informa-
tive. However, the presence of some diagnostic
will make the programmer aware of a problem,
even if it does little to pinpoint the location and
nature of the error.
Overall, I believe that Dr. Jones’ final com-
ments indicate that he did understand the major
point of the article-software development must be
viewed as the eventual goal of producing language
implementations, of which the correct compilation
of correct code is just one aspect. Software tools
must be engineered to support development
properly, with all of its pitfalls and false turns.
ARTHUR PYSTER
Assistant Professor
Department of Electrical Engineering
and Computer Science
University of California
Santa Barbara
Calif. 93106, U.S.A.

Book Reviews
DIGITAL COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS, Thomas C. MICROCOMPUTER PROBLEM SOLVING USING PASCAL,
Bartee, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1977. No. of Kenneth L. Bowles, Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1977.
pages: 563. Price: E l l . 7 0 . No. of pages: 563. Price: DM21.40, U.S. $9.80.

Many generations of students must have learned Kenneth Bowles at the University of California,
the fundamentals of digital computers from San Diego (UCSD), has implemented a Pascal
Bartee’s book since it was first published in interpreter on a range of microcomputers. The
1960. Now in its fourth edition there cannot be interpreter is accessed via a simple interactive
terminal-oriented user interface and the version of
much of the original text left, so effectively has it
been updated. Pascal supported is an extended subset of the
The treatment is comprehensive, requiring very accepted standard as defined by Jensen and
little background. In particular, no real knowledge Wirth. Files, pointer types, variant records and
formal procedures and functions are omitted,
of electronics is assumed or required. After a gentle
introduction to computer operation, four chapters small changes are made to the definition of some
cover the basics-number systems, boolean features, an explicit procedure exit mechanism is
algebra, gate networks, logic design and digital introduced and the number of predefined pro-
circuits. Then follow detailed chapters on the cedures is increased. The system is designed
major elements of a computer system-arithmetic/ primarily for use from an on-line display console
logical unit, memory, 1/0 and control. A final and is geared to producing line drawings on such
chapter on computer organization rounds off the a display. A number of predefined procedures
text, describing typical architectures ranging from provide a simple ‘turtle graphics’ environment as
the 6800 to the 370. (The sublime to the ridicu- in LOGO. String processing is also facilitated; a
lous ?) number of procedures are available for string
handling and the concept of strings as embedded
The text is clearly written, and illustrated by an
abundance of diagrams and photographs. The within Pascal is extended. In particular, the type
discussion of 1/0 devices in particular benefits string is predefined (as packed array [1..80] of
from clear diagrams of the mechanisms involved. char) with a non-standard syntax for changing
This is a textbook that can be recommended the default size, strings may be read, assignments
without reservation. of strings of different lengths may be made to
one string variable and some predefined functions
deliver a result of type string.
D . W. BARRON The book describes use of the system in detail
University of Southampton and concentrates on these two application areas to