Questions tagged [operational-semantics]
The operational-semantics tag has no usage guidance.
22 questions
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Are there any programming languages based on the method of analytic tableaux, aside from Fitting's Proflog?
The method of analytic tableaux [0] describes a process by which logical formulae, particularly of first order logic, can be determined to be valid or invalid. From the Wikipedia entry:
A tableau ...
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Operational semantics and denotational semantics and describing the behaviour and structure of programs
I was under the impression that operational semantics describes the behaviour of a program (so it includes the implementation details / the implementation matters), whereas denotational semantics ...
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Formalization of matching logic (logic behind K Framework)
Is there any mechanization for matching logic (any flavor)?
I only find study about K Framework rules to Deducti translation, but this is both not covering to matching logic and not internalizing the ...
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What's the relation between applicative bisimulation and context equivalence in the $\lambda$-calculus?
I've seem two different notions of operational equivalence being used for the $\lambda$-lalculus, i.e., an equivalence stating that "if we replace term $a$ with a term $b$ in a program, the ...
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Why structural rules define the "smallest relation" satisfying the rules? [closed]
I'm following a university course based on these slides, and I have a question about structural operational semantics.
As you can see at page 7 (4-th slide), a structural rule is interpreted logically ...
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Origin of simulation relations for compiler correctness
Leroy uses simulation relations as a means of showing compiler correctness; the basic idea is that a simulation relation is an asymmetric binary relation between states in two different small step ...
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Effect handlers, arrows and applicatives
After reading Lindley's paper on effect handlers for arrows and applicatives, I got the gist about dynamic and static flow and that it was added to the effect system and so on. However, I do not ...
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Moggi's computational metalanguage
In Notions of Computation and Monads Moggi models the notion of a computation of type $A$, $TA$, using a monad $T$. Among other things this ensures the $T\eta$ rule:
$$\frac{x: A \vdash a:TB}{x:A \...
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Do we care about confluence because of unique normal forms?
Confluence implies uniqueness of normal forms, which is great. It is also much simpler to reason about, allowing more reusable proofs (indeed I don't imagine a way to prove UN directly for the $\...
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Has there been work on formal Semantics for linear algebra?
Could I get some references on formal semantics for a calculus on linear algebra that helps you study matrix or tensor based programming languages? I am looking for anything that encompasses linear or ...
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What is contextual equivalence ignoring non-termination called?
Contextual equivalence ($M_1 \cong_{ctx} M_2$) is often defined as:
$C[M_1] \Downarrow V \iff C[M_2] \Downarrow V$
Which is to say for any context $C$, $C[M_1]$ terminates with value $V$ iff $C[M_2]$...
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For what languages is there already a theory of observational equivalence?
For a correctness proof, I'm looking for a usable notion of program equivalence $\cong$ for Barendregt's pure type systems (PTSs); missing that, for enough specific type systems. My goal is simply to ...
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Name a set of program variables
I am interested in the set of the variables that satisfy the following properties. I would like to find a proper name for them.
We assume that a program $\phi$ has a set of variables $v_0, \ldots, ...
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Can we distinguish strictly syntactic and semantic methods in programming language?
While discussion strong normalization proofs, this comment contrasts the "normal forms model" with "purely syntactic methods".
This brings me back to a more basic question: can we still distinguish ...
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Tool for specifying operational semantics for given formally specified programming language
I am trying to translate code from one programming language into another (to be specific - from RuleML to Drools, but other pairs can be expected as well) and it would be nice to know - whether there ...
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Evaluation contexts: outside-in vs inside-out
I heard that there exist two styles to define an evaluation context: outside-in and inside-out. Can someone give the definitions? Why are they so named (inside-out and outside-in)? What is the ...
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How would you define a set of 'fundamental operations' over an object? [closed]
I'm writing an implementation for a common array structure.
As you would find already familiar, an array is an ordered data structure that you can transform with different (hopefully self-explained) ...
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Step-indexing: Where to begin?
I am about to begin a verification project (for MIPS) with my professor (I am a senior undergraduate) and have been told that the soundness proof for the program logic we need will probably involve ...
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Semantics of a programming language [duplicate]
A newbie question, if I may... Could you be so kind and explain to me in plain english meaning of 'denotational semantics' and 'operational semantics'? I'm familiar with the definitions and have read ...
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Can Scheme's call/cc implement all known control flow structures?
The page "Advanced Scheme: Some Naughty Bits" states:
Continuations are a powerful control-flow construct from which
nearly any other control-flow structure [...] may be derived.
I thought that ...
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What is the difference between meaning and denotation?
In programming language semantics, it is often heard that people talking about meaning and denotation. They seem not to be the same. What is the difference? Is the former associated with ...
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Characterizing closure under expansion/reduction for big-step semantics?
Two common ways of formulating operational semantics for programming languages based on lambda-calculus are big-step and small-step semantics.
In a big step semantics, you give a relation $e \...
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