Report Number: CS-TR-89-1288
Institution: Stanford University, Department of Computer Science
Title: Programming and proving with function and control abstractions
Author: Talcott, Carolyn
Date: October 1989
Abstract: Rum is an intensional semantic theory of function and control abstractions as computation primitives. It is a mathematical foundation for understanding and improving current practice in symbolic (Lisp-style) computation. The theory provides, in a single context, a variety of semantics ranging from structures and rules for carrying out computations to an interpretation as functions on the computation domain. Properties of powerful programming tools such as functions as values, streams, aspects of object oriented programming, escape mechanisms, and coroutines can be represented naturally. In addition a wide variety of operations on programs can be treated including program transformations which introduce function and control abstractions, compiling morphisms that transform control abstractions into function abstractions, and operations that transform intensional properties of programs into extensional properties. The theory goes beyond a theory of functions computed by programs, providing tools for treating both intensional and extensional properties of programs. This provides operations on programs with meanings to transform as well as meanings to preserve. Applications of this theory include expressing and proving properties of particular programs and of classes of programs and studying mathematical properties of computation mechanisms. Additional applications are the design and implementation of interactive computation systems and the mechanization of reasoning about computation. These notes are based on lectures given at the Western Institute of Computer Science summer program, 31 July - 1 August 1986. Here we focus on programming and proving with function and control abstractions and present a variety of example programs, properties, and techniques for proving these properties.
http://i.stanford.edu/pub/cstr/reports/cs/tr/89/1288/CS-TR-89-1288.pdf