Abstract

We describe the methodology and current features for ML2000, a new-generation design of ML. ML2000 adds a number of features to Standard ML and Caml, providing better support for extensibility and code reuse, while also fixing latent problems. Although none of the features is particularly novel on its own, the combination of features and design methodology are. 1 Introduction In 1992, an ad hoc group of researchers started to investigate ways to improve the two main dialects of ML, Standard ML (SML) [33] and Caml [9]. ML already provides a strong basis for developing programs in the small and in the large: higher-order functions, references, datatypes and polymorphism are useful for programming in the small, and first-order modules with separate notions of interfaces and implementations are useful for programming in the large. No language is perfect, though: a number of new implementation techniques and advances in programming language design had been made since the development of fre...

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