Module: Comparative Programming Languages

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Comparative Programming Languages
Module Code	CSC1055 (ITS: CA341)
Faculty	Engineering & Computing	School	Computing
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

This module will introduce the student to essential programming concepts on which modern programming languages are designed. This module will allow students to understand design choices in current programming languages, and to readily understand the features that may introduced into future programming languages.

Learning Outcomes

1. 1E499A9D-522E-0001-8283-1DB071481BCD
2. Explain the essential concepts underpinning modern programming languages.
4. 7,6
5. 1
6. 1E499A9D-6593-0001-CF25-147010AA9960
7. Evaluate a programming language with respect to its design choices and appropriateness for a given programming task
9. 11,9
10. 2
11. 1E499A9D-A63F-0001-9826-10001A1B1DF5
12. Implement a fundamental programming task and data structure in an imperative and declarative fashion
14. 8,10
15. 3
16. 1E499A9D-C79D-0001-68E7-67F46BED1337
17. Compare a procedural programming language with an object oriented programming language within the context of programming language design concepts
19. 9
20. 4
21. 1E499A9D-F9CA-0001-D0E5-EA1210608630
22. Compare a functional programming language with a logic programming language within the context of programming language design concepts
24. 9
25. 5

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Formal lectures
Assignment Completion	50	No Description
Independent Study	51	No Description
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	10238	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	50%	Examination Weight	50%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	N
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Geoffrey Hamilton	Module Teacher	Brian Davis

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Group assignment	Imperative Programming Assignment. Students will implement a fundamental programming task in a procedural and object-oriented programming language. Students must describe and document their solution in detail and compare and contrast both programming paradigms in a critical report.	20%	Week 6
Group assignment	Declarative Programming Assignment. Students will implement a fundamental programming task in a functional and logic based language of their choice. Students must describe and document their solution in detail and compare and contrast both programming paradigms in a critical report	20%	Week 9
Loop Quiz	Students will complete weekly quizzes which will test the knowledge and comprehension of each unit of teaching.	10%	Every Week
Formal Examination	n/a	50%	End-of-Semester

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Execution Environments
Complied vs Interpreted Programs, Bindings.

Typing and Scope
Primitive types, Constructed Types, Static vs Dynamic Types Languages, Type Inference,

Algebraic Data Types, Dependent Types,

Scope in Blocks, Scope in Namespaces, Static vs. Dynamic Types.

Pointers and Memory Management
Explicit and Implicit pointers, Memory Management, Garbage Collection.

Abstraction
Control, Procedural and Data Abstractions, Functions.

Parameter Passing
Parameter Matching and Parameter Passing Mechanisms.

Assertions and Exceptions
Pre- and Postconditions, Loop Invariants, Program Correctness.

Concurrency
Semaphores, Monitors, Message Passing, Threads, Coroutines.

Object-Oriented Programming Paradigm
Classes, Sub-classes, Inheritance, Multiple Inheritance, Interfaces, Polymorphism (incl. Parametric Polymorphism).

Logic Programming Paradigm
Search vs. Computation, Unification, The Prolog Database.

Functional Programming Paradigm
Functions as First-Class values, Closures, Partial Application, Lambda Functions.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

M. Ben-Ari: 1996, Understanding Programming Languages, John Wiley & Sons, 978-047195846
John C. Mitchell: 2003, Concepts in programming language, Cambridge University Press, New York, 540, 978-052178098
David A. Watt: 2004, Programming Language Design Concepts, John Wiley & Sons, 978-047085320
0: Programming Language Pragmatics, 4, San Diego; Morgan Kaufmann, 9780124104099, 315995
2015: Concepts of Programming Languages, 11, Pearson, 9780133943023,

Articles:

Barbara G. Ryder, Mary Lou Soffa and Margaret Burnett: 2005, The impact of software engineering research on modern progamming languages, ACM Transactions on Software Engineering and Methodology (TOSEM), Volume 14 Issue 4, 1049-331X,

Other Resources

None