META II

META II is a <a href="/facts/Domain-specific_language/n18H1foD">domain-specific</a> <a href="/facts/Programming_language/cWTYbgWa">programming language</a> for writing <a href="/facts/Compiler/WNfCDFJe">compilers</a>. It was created in 1963–1964 by Dewey Val Schorre at <a href="/facts/University_of_California,_Los_Angeles/KwPz7AK1">University of California, Los Angeles</a> (UCLA). META II uses what Schorre called <a href="/facts/Syntax_(programming_languages)/zM5oInza">syntax</a> equations. Its operation is simply explained as:

Each syntax equation is translated into a recursive <a href="/facts/Function_(computer_programming)/9vFJrg0A">subroutine</a> which tests the input string for a particular phrase structure, and deletes it if found.
Meta II programs are compiled into an <a href="/facts/Interpreter_(computing)/JB85fbyb">interpreted</a> <a href="/facts/Byte_code/EPkMFR7M">byte code</a> language. VALGOL and SMALGOL compilers illustrating its capabilities were written in the META II language, VALGOL is a simple algebraic language designed for the purpose of illustrating META II. SMALGOL was a fairly large subset of <a href="/facts/ALGOL_60/QnpxUYQm">ALGOL 60</a>.

META II open-in-new

META II