Conception, Evolution, and Application of Functional Programming Languages
Conception, Evolution, and Application of Functional Programming Languages PAUL HUDAK Yale University, Department of Computer Science, New Haven, Connecticut 06520 The foundations of functional programming languages are examined from both historical and technical perspectives. Their evolution is traced through several critical periods: early work on lambda calculus and combinatory calculus, Lisp, Iswim, FP, ML, and modern functional languages such as Miranda’ and Haskell. The fundamental premises on which the functional programming methodology stands are critically analyzed with respect to philosophical, theoretical, and pragmatic concerns. Particular attention is paid to the main features that characterize modern functional languages: higher-order functions, lazy evaluation, equations and pattern matching, strong static typing and type inference, and data abstraction. In addition, current research areas-such as parallelism, nondeterminism, input/output, and state-oriented computations-are examined with the goal of predicting the future development and application of functional languages. Categories and Subject Descriptors: D.l.l [Programming Techniques]: Applicative (Functional) Programming; D.3.2 [Programming Languages]: Language Classifications-applicative languages; data-flow languages; nonprocedural languages; very high-level languages; F.4.1 [Mathematical Logic and Formal Languages]: Mathematical Logic-lambda calculus and related systems; K.2 [History of Computing]: Software General Terms: Languages Additional Key Words and Phrases: Data abstraction, higher-order functions, lazy evaluation, referential transparency, types INTRODUCTION ent kinds of machines increased, the need The earliest programming languages were arose for a common language with which to developed with one simple goal in mind: to program all of them. provide a vehicle through which one could Thus from primitive assembly lan- control the behavior of computers.
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