In this paper, I present our recent work on the choice calculus, a fundamental representation for software variation that can serve as a common language of discourse for variation research, filling a role similar to lambda calculus in programming language research.

The C-family programming languages share significant features of the C programming language. Many of these 70 languages were developmentally influenced by C due to its success and ubiquity. The family also includes predecessors that influenced C's design such as BCPL.

C is a foundational language for learning other languages both in and outside the C family. It’s relatively simple and easy to learn, and it will help you understand and program with other languages — including C++ and C# — after you’ve mastered the basics.

Programming languages are described in terms of their syntax (form) and semantics (meaning), usually defined by a formal language. Languages usually provide features such as a type system, variables, and mechanisms for error handling.

Oct 12, 2010 · In this paper, I present our recent work on the choice calculus, a fundamental representation for software variation that can serve as a common language of discourse for variation research,...

Our current work in this area focuses on the choice calculus, a fundamental representation for software variation that can serve as a common language of discourse for variation research, filling a role similar to lambda calculus in programming language research.

Oct 10, 2010 · In this paper, I present our recent work on the choice calculus, a fundamental representation for software variation that can serve as a common language of discourse for variation research, filling a role similar to lambda calculus in programming language research.

In this tutorial we will first present the motivation, general ideas, and principles that underlie the choice calculus. This is followed by a closer look at the semantics. We will then present practical applications based on several small example scenarios and consider the concepts of ”variation programming” and ”variation querying”.

In this paper we study the application of the Darwinian explanation to the program-ming languages evolution by discussing to what extent the evolutionary mechanisms distinctive of biology can be applied to this area.

First, different representations prevent or complicate a potential integration of different forms of variation. For example, variation in functionality is currently only poorly supported in most versioning tools by branching. Second, it can be difficult to transfer research results achieved within one representation to other representations.