[sidewndr46]

I had to take some course that was something like "Programming Language Theory". As a result I had to look at the specifications for dozens of different programming languages. I remember looking at the features of some languages and scratching my head trying to figure out how some of this would ever be practically implemented by a compiler. Later on I found out lots of stuff is just implemented by a runtime anyways, which lead to me realize that those fancy language features are often better as a library.

[cubix]

I took a course exactly like that. I wonder if we went to the same school, or it’s due to curriculum standardization. The professor was particularly enthusiastic about Ada, so I had assumed the course was largely his creation.

[budman1]

academics loved ada when it came out. it was a very sophisticated language for it's day.

same is true today. the spec/body separation made for an actual delineation between design and implementation.

[sidewndr46]

the accreditation was through ABET at the time from what I recall