First-class polymorphism for ML

Kahrs, Stefan (1994) First-class polymorphism for ML. In: UNSPECIFIED. (Full text available)

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Abstract

Polymorphism in ML is implicit: type variables are silently introduced and eliminated. The lack of an explicit declaration of type variables restricts the expressiveness of parameterised modules (functors). Certain polymorphic functions cannot be expressed as functors, because implicit type parameters of polymorphic functions are in one respect more powerful than formal type parameters of functors. The title suggests that this lack of expressiveness is due to a restricted ability to abstract --- polymorphism is restricted. Type variables can only be abstracted from value declarations, but not from other forms of declarations, especially not from structure declarations. The paper shows in the case of Standard ML how (syntax and) semantics can be modified to fill this language gap. This is not so much a question of programming language design as a contribution for better understanding the relationship between polymorphic functions, polymorphic types, and functors.

Item Type:	Conference or workshop item (UNSPECIFIED)
Uncontrolled keywords:	ML, polymorphism, modules
Subjects:	Q Science > QA Mathematics (inc Computing science) > QA 76 Software, computer programming,
Divisions:	Faculties > Sciences > School of Computing > Theoretical Computing Group
Depositing User:	Mark Wheadon
Date Deposited:	13 Aug 2009 20:43 UTC
Last Modified:	16 Jan 2017 04:52 UTC
Resource URI:	https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/21199 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)