Parametrization (The end ?)

[Michel.Bidoit@ens.fr (Michel Bidoit)]

Dear All,

I have made an attempt to clarify how to integrate parametrized
specifications in the X CoFI specification language, taking for granted
that parametrized specifications are useful (as a means for structuring
specification texts and for reusing them) and that they should not be
confused with ``architectural specifications''.

(Sketches of) examples are given in a hopefully suggestive but
otherwise quite arbitrary concrete syntax. Attempts are made to
provide a corresponding abstract syntax - in fact the grammar is very
close to that given in v0.93 of the language summary.

The resulting note is available on the Web at:
	http://www.ens.fr/~bidoit/PARAM/Note
(it is not posted directly since it is a bit long).

Best regards,
Michel

[Note: Parametrization is one of the few issues of the tentative
language design proposal that are still somewhat controversial.
Bernd, the coordinator of the Language Design Task Group, agrees that
we should try to reach a consensus on these remaining issues *before*
the Edinburgh meetings, so all active participants are asked to read
Michel's note and make their reactions clear during the next 2 weeks -
deadline 20 October!  Just send your comments or counter-proposals to
cofi-language@brics.dk, they should be forwarded promptly to the
subscribers (unless merely expressing agreement).  --PDM]