The book "Partial Evaluation and Automatic Program Generation" by Neil D. Jones, Carsten K. Gomard, and Peter Sestoft provides a comprehensive overview of partial evaluation, a technique for program optimization and specialization. The authors introduce the fundamental concepts of programming languages and present practical methods for constructing partial evaluators for various programming languages, including functional, imperative, and logical languages. Key topics include: 1. **Introduction to Partial Evaluation**: Explains the concept of partial evaluation as program specialization and its applications in compilation, compiler generation, and automatic program generation. 2. **Fundamental Concepts in Programming Languages**: Discusses functions, types, expressions, and interpreters, providing a foundation for understanding partial evaluation. 3. **Principles of Partial Evaluation**: Describes the principles of self-applicable partial evaluation using mini-languages like flow charts and first-order recursion equations. 4. **Partial Evaluation for Stronger Languages**: Extends the principles to more complex languages such as the lambda calculus, Prolog, and C. 5. **Practical Aspects and Applications**: Presents practical applications of partial evaluation, including speed improvements, compiler generation, and self-application. 6. **Advanced Topics**: Covers advanced techniques, termination, program analysis, and program transformation. 7. **Conclusion and Future Directions**: Discusses the limitations and future research directions in partial evaluation. The book is structured to be accessible to both beginners and researchers, providing detailed explanations and examples of partial evaluation techniques and their implementation. It also includes a guide to the literature and references for further reading.The book "Partial Evaluation and Automatic Program Generation" by Neil D. Jones, Carsten K. Gomard, and Peter Sestoft provides a comprehensive overview of partial evaluation, a technique for program optimization and specialization. The authors introduce the fundamental concepts of programming languages and present practical methods for constructing partial evaluators for various programming languages, including functional, imperative, and logical languages. Key topics include: 1. **Introduction to Partial Evaluation**: Explains the concept of partial evaluation as program specialization and its applications in compilation, compiler generation, and automatic program generation. 2. **Fundamental Concepts in Programming Languages**: Discusses functions, types, expressions, and interpreters, providing a foundation for understanding partial evaluation. 3. **Principles of Partial Evaluation**: Describes the principles of self-applicable partial evaluation using mini-languages like flow charts and first-order recursion equations. 4. **Partial Evaluation for Stronger Languages**: Extends the principles to more complex languages such as the lambda calculus, Prolog, and C. 5. **Practical Aspects and Applications**: Presents practical applications of partial evaluation, including speed improvements, compiler generation, and self-application. 6. **Advanced Topics**: Covers advanced techniques, termination, program analysis, and program transformation. 7. **Conclusion and Future Directions**: Discusses the limitations and future research directions in partial evaluation. The book is structured to be accessible to both beginners and researchers, providing detailed explanations and examples of partial evaluation techniques and their implementation. It also includes a guide to the literature and references for further reading.