A Programming Language for a Very Large Array

This chapter describes PascalPL0, a programming language for the computer language for information processing (CLIP) parallel arrays. PascalPL0 is close in spirit to CLIP assembly language and is closely tailored to a converging pyramid approach to pattern recognition and scene description to be successful as a general higher-level language. However, it is a significant step above CLIP assembly language and it tangibly eases the programmer's burden. This language was motivated by an approach to scene analysis that is highly parallel and can take advantage of the potential great increases in speed offered by a parallel computer, such as CLIP. PascalPL0 was designed to expedite programs that take this approach, especially in its major compounding and implication statements. But it is a general purpose language for a general-purpose computer, therefore, any kind of scene analysis or pattern recognition program could be coded in it.