Typos sabotaging your code? This paper introduces a redundancy check method for ALGOL programs, designed to improve accuracy in the human-mediated communication channel during program preparation. Involving multiple humans in the copying and translation of ALGOL code introduces significant opportunities for typographical errors. The proposed solution aims to detect minor errors that can occur during the transcription of algorithms for computers with different input-output media. The process often involves a typist, typesetter, and keypunch operator, and in spite of checking by authors, proof readers, editors, and verifiers, this process is a noisy one. By employing a redundancy check, the accuracy of transmitted algorithms can be improved, reducing the number of minor typographical errors which have been detected and reported in published algorithms. The technique focuses on providing a check on the accuracy of an algorithm, specifically in ALGOL 60, as it is transmitted through this error-prone channel. While tailored to ALGOL 60, the principles behind the method can be adapted to other common languages, offering a practical way to enhance program reliability and minimize coding errors.
Published in Communications of the ACM, this paper is relevant due to the journal's focus on improving the accuracy and reliability of computer programs. By addressing the problem of typographical errors in ALGOL programs and proposing a redundancy check method, it contributes to the ongoing efforts to enhance software development practices, aligning with the journal’s mission.