Logic and functional programming: Fresh concepts in computer processing are revolutionizing modeling needs

Programming language design amounts to a model, or abstract description, of computation. Most traditional languages are based upon a computational model capable of carrying out arithmetic operations, making variable assignments, calling procedures, looping, and so forth. They are designed to meet the needs of traditionally structured computers. Thus, models of new languages appear to vary only slightly. But times are changing. Ideas about computer processing are breaking new ground and requiring computer languages radically different in their modeling.