This easy-to-follow text provides an accessible introduction to the key topics of formal languages and abstract machines within Computer Science. The author follows the formula of his first book, but makes these core computing topics more fundamental.

A Concise Introduction to Languages, Machines and Logic provides an accessible introduction to three key topics within computer science: formal languages, abstract machines and formal logic. Written in an easy-to-read, informal style, this textbook assumes only a basic knowledge of programming on the part of the reader.

The approach is deliberately non-mathematical, and features: - Clear explanations of formal notation and jargon, - Extensive use of examples to illustrate algorithms and proofs, - Pictorial representations of key concepts, - Chapter opening overviews providing an introduction and guidance to each topic, - End-of-chapter exercises and solutions, - Offers an intuitive approach to the topics.

This reader-friendly textbook has been written with undergraduates in mind and will be suitable for use on course covering formal languages, formal logic, computability and automata theory. It will also make an excellent supplementary text for courses on algorithm complexity and compilers.

The author follows the successful formula of his first book on this subject, this time making these core computing topics more accessible and providing an excellent foundation for undergraduates Uses an intuitive approach Contains many pedagogical elements, such as exercises, solutions and chapter summaries Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Inhalt
Languages and Machines.- Elements of Formal Languages.- Syntax, Semantics and Ambiguity.- Regular Languages and Finite State Recognisers.- Context Free Languages and Pushdown Recognisers.- Important Features of Regular and Context Free Languages.- Phrase Structure Languages and Turing Machines.- Machines and Computation.- Finite State Transducers.- Turing Machines as Computers.- Turing's Thesis and the Universality of the Turing Machine.- Computability, Solvability and the Halting Problem.- Dimensions of Computation.