jouvelot@mit-vax.UUCP (10/28/87)
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The FX-87 Programming Language and its Reference Manual are now available.
Quoting the abstract :
"The FX programming language is designed to support the parallel
implementation of applications that perform both symbolic and scientific
computations. Unlike previous languages, FX uses an effect system to
discover expression scheduling constraints. The effect system is part of
a kinded type system with three base kinds:
. types, which describe the value of an expression;
. effects, which describe the side-effects that an expression may have;
. regions, which describe the areas of the store in which side-effects
may occur.
Types, effects, and regions are collectively called descriptions.
FX expressions can be abstracted over any kind of description. This
permits type, effect, and region polymorphism. Unobservable side-effects
are masked by the effect system; an effect soundness property guarantees
that the effects computed statically by the effect system are a
conservative approximation of the actual side-effects that a given
expression may have.
Effect polymorphism and effect masking make the FX effect system
substantially more powerful than previous approaches to side-effect
analysis."
The "FX-87 Reference Manual (Edition 1.0)" is the MIT/LCS Technical Report
no.407 and can be ordered (for about $12) at the following address :
LCS Publications
Laboratory for Computer Science
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
545, Technology Square
Cambridge, MA 02139
U.S.A.
An experimental and sequential version of FX has been implemented in Scheme.
People interested in implementation issues can contact gifford@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU
for more information.
David K. Gifford
Pierre Jouvelot
John M. Lucassen
Mark A. Sheldon
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Pierre Jouvelot
Room NE43-403 ARPA: jouvelot@xx.lcs.mit.edu
Lab for Computer Science USENET: decvax!mit-vax!jouvelot
MIT (or mcvax!litp!pj)
545, Technology Square TPH: (617) 253-0884
Cambridge, MA 02139
USA