[PRL] Re: [CSG711] Function Template developed further
Matthias Felleisen
matthias at ccs.neu.edu
Wed Sep 14 11:02:25 EDT 2005
Yes, I was asked in 1992 to automate the template generation and again
in 1994 when I pushed it seriously. Pedagogically speaking it is a
hugely bad idea. Figure out why on your own.
For the 711 students: As you explore ideas, keep in mind that your
project does NOT have to be a research project. It just has to be based
on a research paper (or several). Also, it doesn't have to be an
implementation project. You can also attempt a paper-and-pencil
project.
-- Matthias
On Sep 14, 2005, at 9:06 AM, Karl Lieberherr wrote:
> After Matthias' first lecture, I would like to explain what my
> research group (the Demeter
> research group) does. This gives you pointers towards projects that
> you might want to do in the second
> part of the course.
>
> Our starting point was the Function Template for functions that
> process a composite structure.
> Matthias has shown several applications of the Function Template,
> including an interpreter for
> propositions. We extensively used this Function Template some 20 years
> ago, and we
> developed it further. We tried to find ways to express the
> enhancements that are needed
> for a given Function Template when we take the output requirements
> into account.
> So we defined extension points in the templates where we could insert
> additional behavior.
> We modularized the description of those enhancements into separate
> modules.
>
> This lead to a new subfield of programming languages, called
> Aspect-Oriented Programming (AOP)
> and we are currently working on interfaces for aspects.
>
> We did another important step. One day I was in Mitch Wand's office
> and we talked about
> the Function Template. Mitch said: "Karl, you should generate the
> templates". So we did.
> We designed a Function Template generator that takes as input a class
> graph and a specification
> which substructure we need for implementing the current function
> requirement and as output
> we got a Function Template.
>
> This lead to the idea of the Law of Demeter (LoD) and Adaptive
> Programming (AP).
>
> The PhD student who did the LoD, Ian Holland, will get a distinguished
> alumnus award this
> year from Northeastern. This is a very prestiguous award given every
> year to a small number
> of individuals out of about 168000 alumni.
>
> Last year, Crista Lopes, the Mother of AOP and also my former PhD
> student, also got
> a distinguished alumnus award from Northeastern.
>
> Following Matthias' advice of retracing some old research in your
> project, I recommend that
> you study the papers of the two Alumni Award recipients to get ideas
> for your project.
> I will actively help you with that but more on this later.
>
>
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