Bird-Meertens Formalism
Encyclopedia
The Bird-Meertens Formalism is a calculus
for deriving program
s from specifications (in a functional-programming
setting), devised by Richard Bird and Lambert Meertens
.
It is sometimes facetiously known as Squiggol, because of the "squiggly" symbols it uses. A less-used variant name, but actually the first one suggested, is SQUIGOL.
Calculation
A calculation is a deliberate process for transforming one or more inputs into one or more results, with variable change.The term is used in a variety of senses, from the very definite arithmetical calculation of using an algorithm to the vague heuristics of calculating a strategy in a competition...
for deriving program
Computer program
A computer program is a sequence of instructions written to perform a specified task with a computer. A computer requires programs to function, typically executing the program's instructions in a central processor. The program has an executable form that the computer can use directly to execute...
s from specifications (in a functional-programming
Functional programming
In computer science, functional programming is a programming paradigm that treats computation as the evaluation of mathematical functions and avoids state and mutable data. It emphasizes the application of functions, in contrast to the imperative programming style, which emphasizes changes in state...
setting), devised by Richard Bird and Lambert Meertens
Lambert Meertens
Lambert Guillaume Louis Théodore Meertens is a Dutch computer scientist and professor.While still a student at the Ignatius Gymnasium in Amsterdam, Meertens designed a computer, together with his classmate Kees Koster....
.
It is sometimes facetiously known as Squiggol, because of the "squiggly" symbols it uses. A less-used variant name, but actually the first one suggested, is SQUIGOL.
See also
- CatamorphismCatamorphismIn category theory, the concept of catamorphism denotes the unique homomorphism from an initial algebra into some other algebra. The concept has been applied to functional programming as folds.The dual concept is that of anamorphism...
- AnamorphismAnamorphismAnamorphosis is a distorted projection or perspective requiring the viewer to use special devices or occupy a specific vantage point to reconstitute the image...
- ParamorphismParamorphismA paramorphism is an extension of the concept of catamorphism to deal with a form which “eats its argument and keeps it too”, as exemplified by the factorial function. Its categorical dual is the apomorphism...
- HylomorphismHylomorphism (computer science)In computer science, and in particular functional programming, a hylomorphism is a recursive function, corresponding to the composition of an anamorphism and a catamorphism...