17 research outputs found
Sequential algorithms as bistable maps
We exhibit Cartwright-Curien-Felleisen's model of observably sequential algorithms as a full subcategory of Laird's bistable biorders, thereby reconciling two views of functions: functions-as-algorithms (or programs), and functions-as-relations. We then characterize affine sequential algorithms as affine bistable functions in the full subcategory of locally boolean orders
Sequential algorithms as bistable maps
We exhibit Cartwright-Curien-Felleisen's model of observably sequential algorithms as a full subcategory of Laird's bistable biorders, thereby reconciling two views of functions: functions-as-algorithms (or programs), and functions-as-relations. We then characterize affine sequential algorithms as affine bistable functions in the full subcategory of locally boolean orders
The Sigma-Semantics: A Comprehensive Semantics for Functional Programs
A comprehensive semantics for functional programs is presented, which generalizes the well-known call-by-value and call-by-name semantics. By permitting a separate choice between call-by value and call-by-name for every argument position of every function and parameterizing the semantics by this choice we abstract from the parameter-passing mechanism. Thus common and distinguishing features of all instances of the sigma-semantics, especially call-by-value and call-by-name semantics, are highlighted. Furthermore, a property can be validated for all instances of the sigma-semantics by a single proof. This is employed for proving the equivalence of the given denotational (fixed-point based) and two operational (reduction based) definitions of the sigma-semantics. We present and apply means for very simple proofs of equivalence with the denotational sigma-semantics for a large class of reduction-based sigma-semantics. Our basis are simple first-order constructor-based functional programs with patterns
Intensional and Extensional Semantics of Bounded and Unbounded Nondeterminism
We give extensional and intensional characterizations of nondeterministic
functional programs: as structure preserving functions between biorders, and as
nondeterministic sequential algorithms on ordered concrete data structures
which compute them. A fundamental result establishes that the extensional and
intensional representations of non-deterministic programs are equivalent, by
showing how to construct a unique sequential algorithm which computes a given
monotone and stable function, and describing the conditions on sequential
algorithms which correspond to continuity with respect to each order.
We illustrate by defining may and must-testing denotational semantics for a
sequential functional language with bounded and unbounded choice operators. We
prove that these are computationally adequate, despite the non-continuity of
the must-testing semantics of unbounded nondeterminism. In the bounded case, we
prove that our continuous models are fully abstract with respect to may and
must-testing by identifying a simple universal type, which may also form the
basis for models of the untyped lambda-calculus. In the unbounded case we
observe that our model contains computable functions which are not denoted by
terms, by identifying a further "weak continuity" property of the definable
elements, and use this to establish that it is not fully abstract
Inductive Definition and Domain Theoretic Properties of Fully Abstract
A construction of fully abstract typed models for PCF and PCF^+ (i.e., PCF +
"parallel conditional function"), respectively, is presented. It is based on
general notions of sequential computational strategies and wittingly consistent
non-deterministic strategies introduced by the author in the seventies.
Although these notions of strategies are old, the definition of the fully
abstract models is new, in that it is given level-by-level in the finite type
hierarchy. To prove full abstraction and non-dcpo domain theoretic properties
of these models, a theory of computational strategies is developed. This is
also an alternative and, in a sense, an analogue to the later game strategy
semantics approaches of Abramsky, Jagadeesan, and Malacaria; Hyland and Ong;
and Nickau. In both cases of PCF and PCF^+ there are definable universal
(surjective) functionals from numerical functions to any given type,
respectively, which also makes each of these models unique up to isomorphism.
Although such models are non-omega-complete and therefore not continuous in the
traditional terminology, they are also proved to be sequentially complete (a
weakened form of omega-completeness), "naturally" continuous (with respect to
existing directed "pointwise", or "natural" lubs) and also "naturally"
omega-algebraic and "naturally" bounded complete -- appropriate generalisation
of the ordinary notions of domain theory to the case of non-dcpos.Comment: 50 page
Some Programming Languages Suggested by Game Models (Extended Abstract)
AbstractWe consider a simple and well-known category of alternating games (also known as sequential data structures) and several categories derived from it. In each case, we present an extension of Plotkin's language FPC (or a suitable linearization thereof) which defines all computable strategies of appropriate types. The quest for such languages results in a novel selection of language primitives for state encapsulation, coroutining and backtracking
Decidability and syntactic control of interference
AbstractWe investigate the decidability of observational equivalence and approximation in Reynoldsâ âSyntactic Control of Interferenceâ (SCI), a prototypical functional-imperative language in which covert interference between functions and their arguments is prevented by the use of an affine typing discipline.By associating denotations of terms in a fully abstract ârelationalâ model of finitary basic SCI (due to Reddy) with multitape finite state automata, we show that observational approximation is not decidable (even at first order), but that observational equivalence is decidable for all terms.We then consider the same problems for basic SCI extended with non-local control in the form of backwards jumps. We show that both observational approximation and observational equivalence are decidable in this âobservably sequentialâ version of the language by describing a fully abstract games model in which strategies are regular languages