Aldor is a computer programming language, like Scheme, Java or C#.

The aldor.org site provides information about the Aldor programming language, its compiler and libraries, as well as downloads for software and documentation.

From a technical point of perspective, Aldor is a type-complete, strongly-typed, imperative programming language with a two-level object model of categories and domains (similar to the concept of interfaces and classes in Java). Types and functions are first class entities allowing them to be constructed and manipulated within Aldor programs just like any other value. Pervasive use of dependent types allows static checking of dynamic objects and provides object-oriented features such as parametric polymorphism.

What does this mean for a normal user? Aldor solves many difficulties encountered with certain widely-used object-oriented programming languages. It allows programs to use a natural style, combining the more attractive and powerful properties of functional, object-oriented and aspect-oriented styles.

Overview

The original motivation for Aldor was to provide an improved extension language [SPAD]? for the AXIOM computer algebra system: The language had to be expressive enough to capture naturally the high-level objects and relationships which arise in modern mathematics. An implementation had to be efficient enough for intense symbolic and numeric computing needs. And the language had to be modular enough to allow large libraries of independently developed facilities to be used together in any combination.

The formulation of the programming language has tried to balance the mathematical desire for generality and uniformity, on one hand, with the practical requirements of the most demanding symbolic and numeric computation, on the other. For example, types and functions are first class values, and dependent types are fully supported, but the precise formulation of has been carefully arranged to allow effective optimizaiton. Post facto extensions allow libraries to be built in layers by enriching existing objects, rather than introducing a proliferation of variations. Both object-oriented and functional programming styles are reconstructed naturally form these basic semantic elements.

The Aldor compiler can be used to generate code which runs within the Axiom system, separately, or linked into other applications.

The compiler was available as part of the Axiom system from 1994 to 1999 and was then released as an independent language.

During its development at IBM Research, this programming language was known internally as A# (A sharp) however that name now refers to a version of Ada. The interim name "AXIOM-XL" (Axiom Library Compiler) was used for a short period by NAG before the legal trade name "Aldor" was established.

Downloading Aldor

15-Jul-2013: The aldor.org website currently only provides a pre-release that might have a few problems. A better source is Pippijn van Steenhoven's github page: https://github.com/pippijn/aldor .

See also: [Aldor For Axiom]?