Advanced Functional Programming

Functional languages represent the leading edge of programming language design, and the primary setting in which new programming concepts are introduced and studied. This module builds upon the introductory module G51FUN Functional Programming, by focussing on a number of more advanced topics in functional programming, including aspects of recent and current research. The precise topics covered will vary from year to year, but will include topics such as the following:

• Programming with effects (monads, state, exceptions, etc);
• Reasoning about programs (proof, transformation and calculation);
• Improving efficiency (tupling, accumulation and fusion);
• Functional pearls (short, elegant examples).

Timetable

• Lecture: Wednesdays, 12.00 - 13.00, A24 (Business South);
• Practical: Thursdays, 11.00 - 13.00, A32 (Computer Science);
• Lecture: Fridays, 16.00 - 17.00, A24 (Business South).

Lecture Notes

Lectures will mostly be given at the whiteboard, and students are expected to take their own notes. Some supporting material is available here:

• Introduction
• Review of Haskell
• Solving Sudoku (powerpoint slides)
• Programming with effects (html version by Ranjit Jhala)
• Reasoning about programs - chapter 13 of Programming in Haskell

Coursework

The coursework for the module comprises two extended programming exercises, and will be released here at the appropriate points during the module.

• Noughts and crosses (initial code) - deadline now passed
• Monadic compiler (initial code) - to be submitted by 5pm on Thursday 2nd May

Textbook

There is no formal textbook required, but the following will be useful for background reading, and some material from the later chapters will be covered:

Useful Information

• Haskell platform (the standard compiler and interpreter);
• Standard prelude (some useful library functions);
• Hoogle (for searching the libraries);
• Haskell home page (for all things Haskell).