A new typed, higher-order logic is described which appears particularly well fitted to reasoning about forms of computation whose operational behaviour can be specified using the Natural Semantics style of structural operational semantics [5]. The logic's underlying type system is Moggi's computational metalanguage [11], which enforces a distinction between computations and values via the categorical structure of a strong monad. This is extended to a (constructive) predicate logic with modal formulas about evaluation of computations to values, called evaluation modalities. The categorical structure corresponding to this kind of logic is explained and a couple of examples of categorical models given. As a first example of the naturalness and applicability of this new logic to program semantics, we investigate the translation of a (tiny) fragment of Standard ML into a theory over the logic, which is proved computationally adequate for ML's Natural Semantics [10]. Whilst it is tiny, the M...

We introduce the type theory ¯ v , a call-by-value variant of Parigot's ¯-calculus, as a Curry-Howard representation theory of classical propositional proofs. The associated rewrite system is Church-Rosser and strongly normalizing, and definitional equality of the type theory is consistent, compatible with cut, congruent and decidable. The attendant call-by-value programming language ¯pcf v is obtained from ¯ v by augmenting it by basic arithmetic, conditionals and fixpoints. We study the behavioural properties of ¯pcf v and show that, though simple, it is a very general language for functional computation with control: it can express all the main control constructs such as exceptions and first-class continuations. Proof-theoretically the dual ¯ v -constructs of naming and ¯-abstraction witness the introduction and elimination rules of absurdity respectively. Computationally they give succinct expression to a kind of generic (forward) "jump" operator, which may be regarded as a unif...

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This course introduces the operational and denotational semantics of PCF and examines the relationship between the two. Topics: Syntax and operational semantics of PCF, Activity Lemma, undefinability of parallel or; Context Lemma (first principles proof) and proof by logical relations Denotational semantics of PCF induced by an interpretation; (standard) Scott model, adequacy, weak adequacy and its proof (by a computability predicate) Domain Theory up to SFP and Scott domains; non full abstraction of the standard model, definability of compact elements and full abstraction for PCFP (PCF + parallel or), properties of order-extensional (continuous) models of PCF, Milner's model and Mulmuley's construction (excluding proofs) Additional topics (time permitting): results on pure simply-typed lambda calculus, Friedman 's Completeness Theorem, minimal model, logical relations and definability, undecidability of lambda definability (excluding proof), dI-domains and stable functions Homepa...

We introduce an axiomatic approach to logical relations and data refinement. We consider a programming language and the monad on the category of small categories generated by it. We identify abstract data types for the language with sketches for the associated monad, and define an axiomatic notion of "relation" between models of such a sketch in a semantic category. We then prove three results: (i) such models lift to the whole language together with the sketch; (ii) any such relation satisfies a soundness condition, and (iii) such relations compose. We do this for both equality of data representations and for an ordered version. Finally, we compare our formulation of data refinement with that of Hoare. This work has been done with the support of the MITI Cooperative Architecture Project. This author also acknowledges the support of Kaken-hi. y This author achnowledges the support of the MITI Cooperative Architecture Project. z This author acknowledges the support of EPSRC grant...

This paper introduces a new higher-order typed constructive predicate logic for fixpoint computations, which exploits the categorical semantics of computations introduced by Moggi [8] and contains a strong version of Martin-Lof's `iteration type' [11]. The type system enforces a separation of computations from values. The logic contains a novel form of fixpoint induction and can express partial and total correctness statements about evaluation of computations to values. The constructive nature of the logic is witnessed by strong metalogical properties which are proved using a category-theoretic version of the `logical relations' method. 1 Computation types It is well known that primitive recursion at higher types can be given a categorical characterisation in terms of Lawvere's concept of natural number object [6]. We show that a similar characterisation can be given for general recursion via fixpoint operators of higher types, in terms of a new concept---that of a fixpoint object in ...

A programming metalogic is a formal system into which programming languages can be translated and given meaning. The translation should both reflect the structure of the language and make it easy to prove properties of programs. This thesis develops certain metalogics using techniques of category theory and treats recursion in a new way. The notion of a category with fixpoint object is defined. Corresponding to this categorical structure there are type theoretic equational rules which will be present in all of the metalogics considered. These rules define the fixpoint type which will allow the interpretation of recursive declarations. With these core notions FIX categories are defined. These are the categorical equivalent of an equational logic which can be viewed as a very basic programming metalogic. Recursion is treated both syntactically and categorically. The expressive power of the equational logic is increased by embedding it in an intuitionistic predicate calculus, giving rise to the FIX logic. This contains propositions about the evaluation of computations to values and an induction principle which is derived from the definition of a fixpoint object as an initial algebra. The categorical structure which accompanies the FIX logic is defined, called a FIX hyperdoctrine, and certain existence and disjunction properties of FIX are stated. A particular FIX hyperdoctrine is constructed and used in the proof of the same properties. PCF-style languages are translated into the FIX logic and computational adequacy reaulta are proved. Two languages are studied: Both are similar to PCF except one has call by value recursive function declararations and the other higher order conditionals. ...

We present a new algorithm for detecting semantic combinational cycles that is simpler and more efficient than earlier algorithms found in the literature. Combinational circuits with syntactic cycles often arise in processor and bus-based designs. The intention is that external inputs and delay elements such as latches break these cycles, so that no "semantic" cycles remain. Unbroken semantic cycles are considered a design error in this context. Such unbroken cycles may also occur inadvertently in compositions of Mealy machines.

This note is a historical survey of Christopher Strachey's influence on the development of semantic models of assignment and storage management in procedural languages.

Usually types of PCF are interpreted as cpos and terms as continuous functions. It is then the case that non-termination of a closed term of ground type corresponds to the interpretation being bottom; we say that the semantics is adequate. We shall here present an axiomatic approach to adequacy for PCF in the sense that we will introduce categorical axioms enabling an adequate semantics to be given. We assume the presence of certain "bottom" maps with the role of being the interpretation of non-terminating terms, but the order-structure is left out. This is different from previous approaches where some kind of order-theoretic structure has been considered as part of an adequate categorical model for PCF. We take the point of view that partiality is the fundamental notion from which order-structure should be derived, which is corroborated by the observation that our categorical model induces an order-theoretic model for PCF in a canonical way.