The Prolog Tutorial

The best way to use this tutorial is to read it while having SICStus running. SICStus is the Prolog system that is available locally on the network. It is a commercial product although freeware systems do exist ( e.g. GNU prolog ). We will be using SICStus, it is relatively inexpensive for a university to purchase SICStus.

Also before we begin I should point out Prolog is not like other programming languages you have come across. This means you'll have to approach Prolog with a different mindset to how you would approach other languages e.g. Java. For example Prolog has no rigid predefined control or selection structures. There are no - for, switch control structures or if, if/else, selection structures. Although having said this we can define our own and in some types of programs is it is necessary to so do.

Remember: that it is up to you to learn the material. There will be someone at the labs that you can ask to explain things but ultimately this is a self-taught course.

Warning: Prolog will be difficult 'to cram' because it is so different from the other programming languages you have previously encountered. So you should go through this entire tutorial and attend all the labs to familiarise yourself with the language and SICStus.

1. Introducing Prolog
2. Unification & Instantiation
3. Backtracking & Recursion
4. Lists & Arithmetic
5. More built-in predicates
6. Input / Output
7. Writing Prolog programs & the Exam

GLOSSARY

LIST OF BUILT-IN PREDICATES

RESOURCES

Author - Jer Hayes - 2000