Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2025 - CMPT 383 D100

Comparative Programming Languages (3)

Class Number: 3823

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Mon, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    May 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Wed, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Aug 18, 2025
    Mon, 3:30–6:30 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    CMPT 225 and (MACM 101 or (ENSC 251 and ENSC 252)), all with a minimum grade of C-.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Various concepts and principles underlying the design and use of modern programming languages are considered in the context of procedural, object-oriented, functional and logic programming languages. Topics include data and control structuring constructs, facilities for modularity and data abstraction, polymorphism, syntax, and formal semantics.

COURSE DETAILS:

The objective of this course is to give the student a better understanding of non-imperative programming, and other important distinctions between languages. Various concepts and principles underlying the design and use of modern programming languages are considered. We will take a detailed look at a pure functional programming language, and a language that promotes concurrency.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Topics

  • Expressing algorithms functionally
  • Functional programming in Haskell
  • Type systems in programming languages
  • Compilers, interpretters, and runtime environments
  • Challenges and techniques in concurrent programming
  • Safe programming in Rust

Grading

NOTES:

Will include weekly exercises, assignments, quizzes, and exams.

Students must attain an overall passing grade on the weighted average of exams in the course in order to obtain a clear pass (C- or better).

Materials

RECOMMENDED READING:

  • Programming in Haskell, Graham Hutton, Cambridge University Press,

ISBN: 9781316626221

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.