Function Level Programming

Christopher Diggins — 2007-09-20 02:37:16

I am looking at the function level programming entry on Wikipeda (

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Function-level_programming ) and I am

intrigued.



"This restriction means that functions in FP are a module (generated

by the built-in functions) over the algebra of functional forms, and

are thus algebraically tractable. For instance, the general question

of equality of two functions is equivalent to the halting problem, and

is undecidable, but equality of two functions in FP is just equality

in the algebra, and thus (Backus imagines) easier."



This sounds significant, but I don't know how to leverage such

information practically. What other kinds of things can you do if

functions are a module? Are functions a module in Joy?



Thanks,

Christopher

Don Groves — 2007-09-20 05:43:58

On Sep 19, 2007, at 19:37 , Christopher Diggins wrote:



 > I am looking at the function level programming entry on Wikipeda (

> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Function-level_programming ) and I am

> intrigued.

>

> "This restriction means that functions in FP are a module (generated

> by the built-in functions) over the algebra of functional forms, and

> are thus algebraically tractable. For instance, the general question

> of equality of two functions is equivalent to the halting problem, and

> is undecidable, but equality of two functions in FP is just equality

> in the algebra, and thus (Backus imagines) easier."

>

> This sounds significant, but I don't know how to leverage such

> information practically. What other kinds of things can you do if

> functions are a module? Are functions a module in Joy?

>

> Thanks,

> Christopher



 
This thread has turned into the most information-dense thing I've read

since first encountering Joy. I've been downloading and printing for the

past hour!



I, too, am intrigued by this module idea and intend to do some serious

studying of the issues involved. Also Backus's FP, which has some

ideas I'd like to try implementing in Catenate.

--

Don Groves



"Every now and then a man's mind is stretched by a new idea and never

shrinks back to its former dimensions." -- Oliver Wendel Holmes, Sr.