Plans: Human Factors in the Design of a Computer Programming Language

Conventional computer programming languages have proven inadequate for use in the solution of complex resource allocation and scheduling problems. A new programming language, PLANS, is described. The emphasis in the design of PLANS is not on specialized scheduling commands, but on provision of appropriate basic data structures for scheduling problems. A method of language specification is described which provides rigorous functional definition while allowing an extremely clean interface between the language functional design process (in which human factors personnel might participate most actively) and the implementation process.