A#

language /A sharp/ A separable component of Version 2 of the

AXIOM* computer algebra system. It provides a programming

language with an optimising compiler, an intermediate code

interpreter, and a library of data structures and

mathematical abstractions. The compiler produces

stand-alone executable programs, object libraries in

native operating system formats, portable bytecode

libraries, C and Lisp source code.

The A# programming language has support for object-oriented

and functional programming styles. Both types and functions

are first class values that can be manipulated with a range

of flexible and composable primitives and user programs.

The A# language design places particular emphasis on

compilation for efficient machine code and portability.

Ports have been made to various 16, 32, and 64 bit

architectures: RS/6000, SPARC, DEC Alpha, i386,

i286, Motorola 680x0, S 370; several operatingsystems: Linux, AIX, SunOS, HP/UX, Next, Mach and

other Unix systems, OS/2, DOS, Microsoft Windows,

VMS and CMS; C compilers: Xlc, gcc, Sun,

Borland, Metaware and MIPS C.

(1995-02-07)