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Java as a Functional Programming Language

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Types for Proofs and Programs (TYPES 2002)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 2646))

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Abstract

We introduce a direct encoding of the typed λ-calculus into Java: for any Java types A, B we introduce the type A → B together with function application and λ-abstraction. The latter makes use of anonymous inner classes. We show that λ-terms are evaluated by call-by-value. We then look at how to model domain equations in Java and as an example consider the untyped lambda calculus. Then we investigate the use of function parameters in order to control overriding and in order to dynamically update methods, which can substitute certain applications of the state pattern. Further we introduce a foreach-loop in collection classes. Finally we introduce algebraic types. Elements of the resulting type are given by their elimination rules. Algebraic types with infinitely many arguments like Kleene’s O and simultaneous algebraic types are already contained in that notion. Further we introduce an operation selfupdate, which allows to modify for instance a subtree of a tree, without making a copy of the original tree. All the above constructions are direct and can be done by hand.

Supported by the Nuffield Foundation, grant No. NAL/00303/G

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Computing Science, University of Wales Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK

    Anton Setzer

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  1. Anton Setzer
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science, University of Nijmegen, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Herman Geuvers  & Freek Wiedijk  & 

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Setzer, A. (2003). Java as a Functional Programming Language. In: Geuvers, H., Wiedijk, F. (eds) Types for Proofs and Programs. TYPES 2002. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 2646. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-39185-1_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-39185-1_16

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-14031-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-39185-2

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