Programming Denotational Semantics

L. Allison, Department of Computer Science, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, The Computer Journal, Vol.26, No.2, pp.164-174, doi:10.1093/comjnl/26.2.164, 1983

Abstract: The denotational semantics of a simple language which includes jumps are programmed in Pascal to give an interpreter. By concentrating on the final state of a program the semantics are directly coded in Pascal with only slight modification to the semantics equations. The interpreter was produced as easily as the formal definition of the language and makes a reference implementation and development testbed. By using a widespread metalanguage such as Pascal this definition can be widely understood and executed.

Also see [1985].