Secure Coding mailing list archives
Re: Programming languages used for security
From: der Mouse <mouse () Rodents Montreal QC CA>
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 21:42:51 +0100
Programs written in high-level languages are *precisely* specifications that result in the system generating the program,
Whilst I agree that the distinction between specification and programming languages is not completely clear cut, there is nevertheless a fundamental difference between specification and programming.
In a programming language, you tell the computer what you want it to do, normally by way of sequential statements and loops. You do not tell the computer what you are trying to achieve. [...]
This is really just arguing over what words should be used for creating software using such languages. You call it "specification" (versus "programming"), others call it "declarative programming" (versus "imperative programming"). Personally, I think the latter is the more useful way of looking at it. Complexity cannot, ultimately, be hidden; build a specification language powerful enough to build a whole application and it will have complexity enough that writing useful specifications in it demands the kind of mental discipline that is usually thought of as programming - and provides the same kind of capability for expressing error. (The errors will be at a higher level, because the language is higher level, but they will occur if the thing being built is nontrivial.) /~\ The ASCII der Mouse \ / Ribbon Campaign X Against HTML [EMAIL PROTECTED] / \ Email! 7D C8 61 52 5D E7 2D 39 4E F1 31 3E E8 B3 27 4B
Current thread:
- Programming languages used for security Wall, Kevin (Jul 09)
- Re: Programming languages used for security Fabien (Jul 09)
- Re: Programming languages used for security ljknews (Jul 09)
- Re: Programming languages used for security Crispin Cowan (Jul 09)
- RE: Programming languages used for security David Crocker (Jul 09)
- Re: Programming languages used for security Crispin Cowan (Jul 09)
- Re: Programming languages used for security Dana Epp (Jul 10)
- Re: Programming languages used for security Crispin Cowan (Jul 10)
- RE: Programming languages used for security David Crocker (Jul 10)
- Re: Programming languages used for security der Mouse (Jul 10)
- Re: Programming languages used for security Crispin Cowan (Jul 09)
- Re: Programming languages used for security der Mouse (Jul 10)
- <Possible follow-ups>
- RE: Programming languages used for security Wall, Kevin (Jul 10)
- Re: Programming languages used for security James Walden (Jul 10)
- RE: Programming languages used for security Wall, Kevin (Jul 10)