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From: jbrains@cs.utoronto.ca ("J. B. (Joe) Rainsberger")
Subject: Q: Features of your programming language
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(I'm sorry for the big cross-post, folks, but I am trying to get as many
replies as possible to what is a legitimate request for information.
Don't judge me too harshly.)

Hello, everyone.

I am a Master's Degree student at the University of Toronto
conducting research into certain features of computer programming
languages. It would be nice to be able to say that I have
experience with a large number of programming languages, but that
is simply not true. For this reason, I could use your help.

Please fill out the following small form and send it to me. I'm
simply asking questions about how you would classify your programming
language with respect to certain properties. I consider this to be
more effective than looking into a reference manual, simply because
I am more interested in what features of your programming language
you are using than simply what is available. Also, there may be things
about your language -- tips and tricks, if you will -- that I would
not be able to discern from a reference manual.

That all having been said, please take some time to fill this
little form out. I appreciate your effort.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE:
(eg. Pascal, Watcom Basic, MSVC++ 5.0)

Please select as many as are appropriate:
My programming language offers:
    [ ]  No means to declare variables/identifiers
    [ ]  Means to declare identifiers without specifying their type
    [ ]  Means to declare identifiers including their type, but
		 limited to a set of basic, language-defined types
    [ ]  Means to declare identifiers including their type with the
         option to define more complex types which are compile-time
	     verifiable
    [ ] *Means to declare identifiers including their (possibly
         user-defined) type where some type issues require a prover
    [ ] *Means to declare identifiers including their (possibly
         user-defined) type where some type issues require a prover
         but proving is infeasible, but run-time checking is
         appropriate
    [ ]  Means to assert the correctness of boolean expressions
         concerning the value of a single variable -- a failed
         assertion results in some kind of run-time message

My programming language offers:
    [ ]  Means to verify relationships among variables based on their
		 types -- (includes expression and subprogram parameter
	     type checking)
    [ ]  Means to verify relationships among variables based on their
         values -- (includes mathematical and logical expressions)
    [ ] *Means to verify relationships among variables based on their
         semantics or some interpretation of their role -- (includes
         aggregate types like structures, records, unions and objects)

Variables in my programming language may have:
    [ ]  Global scope only
    [ ]  Module-level scope or more general
    [ ]  Subprogram scope or more general
    [ ]  Block scope (as in C) or more general

My programming language supports:
    [ ]  Verification of single-state conditions -- (assertions)
    [ ] *Verification of preconditions/postconditions for subprograms
    [ ] *Verficiation of conditions over a region of a program --
         (factored assertions)
    [ ] *Verification of conditions over the entire program

Please provide examples of any or all of the above statements marked
by an asterisk (*). Take as much space as you need to offer your
examples or give references where I can find such examples.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks very much for your time. If you have any further questions, do
not hesitate to ask them. Otherwise, please take the time to fill out
this little form and e-mail it to jbrains@cs.toronto.edu.

Have a nice day!
-- 
J. B. (Joe) Rainsberger
University of Toronto,
Computer Science Department
http://www.cs.utoronto.ca/~jbrains