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Advanced Topics in Semantics


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Advanced Topics in Semantics

Seminar, 7 Credit Points

Summer term 2008

Dr. Jan Schwinghammer, Prof. Gert Smolka,
Programming Systems Lab, Department of Computer Science, Saarland University

In this seminar we will take up some ideas introduced in the semantics course, and extend them in various directions. Topics include:

• expressive type systems, such as substructural systems, systems for non-interference, effect systems, and their semantics;
• reasoning about program equivalence, using logical relations and bisimulations;
• data abstraction and parametricity;
• program logics, such as Hoare logics;
• type systems and logics for low-level languages, such as typed assembly language;
• mathematical foundations, such as CCC's, complete partial orders, metric spaces...

The seminar will be based on the book Advanced Topics in Types and Programming Languages, edited by Benjamin Pierce, as well as some original research articles.

Organization

The seminar will be split into two parts:

• a reading group where we will read and discuss some fundamental ideas in the semantics of programming languages, to be held on four occasions during term time; and, building on this,
• a series of talks on chapters of the book and research papers, to be held at the end of September.

We will meet Fridays from 12:45 to 14:00 in seminar room 528 (Building E1.3).

The provisional schedule is as follows:

• Friday, April 18. Homework, latex template for your summary, some examples from a previous seminar.
• Friday, May 9. Group work, follow-up reading on linear types by Phil Wadler, and homework.
• Friday, May 23. Group work, follow-up reading on the hardness of equivalence in simply typed lambda calculus by Harry Mairson, and homework.
• Friday, June 6. Group work, links to further literature on type theory for modules, and homework.
• Friday, June 20. Group work.

The first round of talks will be Friday, July 18th, from 15:30-17:30. The second round will be on Friday, September 26th, from 18:00-20:00 (time may still change).

Requirements

Assessment and work load

To obtain the credit points assigned to this course, you have to

• be present (and prepared) in the reading group and at all talks,
• actively participate in discussions,
• write and submit 1-page summaries of the papers to be discussed in the reading group,
• present a talk (40 minutes, plus discussion), and
• write a report (10–15 pages, electronically submitted as pdf).

Expect to work one full day per week for this seminar.

Registration

The initial meeting took place on Friday, 18.04.2008, and registration for the seminar is now closed. Guests are always welcome during the reading group and talks; simply send an email.