Science of Operations

• Introduction.- Babbage’s Engines.- Semi-automatic Computing.- Logic, Computability and Formal Systems.- Automating Control.- Logic and the Invention of the Computer.- Machine Code Programming and Logic.- The Invention of Programming Languages.- The Algol Research Programme.- The Logic of Correctness in Software Engineering.- The Unification of Data and Algorithms.- Conclusions.

"This book is the only one existing which provides an overview of some of the most important programming language notations and computing machines, giving much attention also to the more technical aspects of programming and the discussions that surround(ed) it. It is thus an important addition to the literature and complements more externally-oriented histories of programming ... ." (Liesbeth De Mol, Mathematical Reviews, May, 2015) "Mark Priestley had carried out an important pioneering work in analysing the intellectual development of programming, and that his book raises and discusses many very interesting philosophical questions concerned with programming languages. Given the central role of computing in modern life, the jury thought that Mark Priestley's book could form the starting point of further important philosophical investigations into the nature of programming and programming languages. For these reasons, they decided to give the book a special commendation." (Fernando Gil International Prize, fernando-gil.org.pt, February, 2014) "This is a book written for specialist historians, and is priced accordingly. ... an important book, and one which will be of interest and use to a broad range of scholars working on topics in mathematics, logic, computing or the history of information technology more generally. ... this book does it does well, and there is no comparable work encompassing such an impressive breadth of material or detail. For historians of computing, The Science of Operations will become an essential text." (Nathan Ensmenger, British Journal for the History of Science, Vol. 45 (1), March, 2012) "Priestley makes an important distinction in his book: that of unpacking programming from the hardware, which is an intriguing twist for the history of computing. This work will be of interest to programmers and computer scientists, as well as to a more general audience. ... Although this is a work on technical programming, it could benefit from illustrations, and thus appeal to a wider readership." (G. Mick Smith, ACM Computing Reviews, November, 2011) "Priestley is a computer scientist who has previously published books on object-oriented design and programming. This work, which grew out of the author's PhD thesis, is a history of computer programming and the connections between formal logic and programming. ... much of the historical narrative should be accessible to all readers ... . Summing Up: Recommended. History of computing collections serving graduate students through professionals and general audiences." (B. Borchers, Choice, Vol. 48 (11), August, 2011)