Hallmark Features
Introduces the fundamental constructs of contemporary programming languages
• Critical evaluation of existing and future programming languages gives students the necessary tools for evaluating on their own.
• An in-depth discussion of programming language structures, presenting a formal method of describing syntax, and introducing approaches to lexical and syntax analysis prepare students for the study of compiler design.
• Coverage of advanced object-oriented topics and languages is integrated throughout.
Addresses the most up-to-date information in this field
• New - New material on Swift, a contemporary programming language, is now part of several chapters.
• New - Section on Delphi now included in Chapter 2.
• New - Section on optional types is included in Chapter 6.
• New and Updated - Content describing iterations in Python are part of Chapter 8.
• Revised - To ensure the material remains relevant to students, sections on outdated languages (specifically Lua and Objective-C) have been removed.
• Revised - Sections of Chapter 5 have been rewritten to improve and clarify the material.
Provides a historical context for learning different programming languages
• Historical boxes and interviews with James Gosling, Larry Wall, Alan Cooper, Bjarne Stroustrup, and others put the material in context.
• Valuable historical foundations that set out the origins, purposes, and contributions of the most important languages discussed in the rest of the text are introduced early on.
• In-depth discussions of the design issues faced by the early versions of relevant languages are presented in later chapters.

New and Updated Features
Addresses the most up-to-date information in this field
• New material on Swift, a contemporary programming language, is now part of several chapters.
• Section on Delphi now included in Chapter 2.
• Section on optional types is included in Chapter 6.
• Content describing iterations in Python are part of Chapter 8.
• To ensure the material remains relevant to students, sections on outdated languages (specifically Lua and Objective-C) have been removed.
• Sections of Chapter 5 have been rewritten to improve and clarify the material.