Parameter-passing and the lambda calculus

dc.contributor.advisorFelleisen, Matthiasen_US
dc.creatorCrank, Erik T.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2009-06-04T00:34:42Zen_US
dc.date.available2009-06-04T00:34:42Zen_US
dc.date.issued1991en_US
dc.description.abstractThe choice of a parameter-passing technique is an important decision in the design of a high-level programming language. To clarify some of the semantic aspects of the decision, we develop, analyze, and compare modifications of the $\lambda$-calculus for the most common parameter-passing techniques. More specifically, for each parameter-passing technique we provide (1) a program rewriting semantics for a language with side-effects and first-class procedures based on the respective parameter-passing technique; (2) an equational theory derived from the rewriting semantics; (3) a formal analysis of the correspondence between the calculus and the semantics; and (4) a strong normalization theorem for the largest possible imperative fragment of the theory. A comparison of the various systems reveals that Algol's call-by-name indeed satisfies the well-known $\beta$ rule of the original $\lambda$-calculus, but at the cost of complicated axioms for the imperative part of the theory. The simplest and most appealing axiom system appears to be the one for a call-by-value language with reference cells as first-class values.en_US
dc.format.extent77 p.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.callnoThesis Comp.Sci. 1991 Cranken_US
dc.identifier.citationCrank, Erik T.. "Parameter-passing and the lambda calculus." (1991) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/13521">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/13521</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/13521en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.en_US
dc.subjectComputer scienceen_US
dc.titleParameter-passing and the lambda calculusen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentComputer Scienceen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineEngineeringen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelMastersen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen_US
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