archives

An idea and syntax for "programming language"

Wanted to know, what you think about this kind of programming language:
WWL

In case you think it's good, I would like to have some cooperation in developing it as I haven't all that time alone - but I think it would make web a better place ;)

Tambet Väli

wondering why C is the language of compilers- when a Scheme subset would seem to be a better fit?

I was just listening to episode 57 of Software Engineering Radio ( http://www.se-radio.net/transcript-57-compiletime-metaprogramming )
I'm only 40 minutes in, but I'm wondering why C is the language of compilers- when a Scheme subset would seem to be a better fit?
(excluding the obvious reason of not wanting to rewrite gcc)

Please forgive my ignorance in this,

Stephen

Physics, Topology, Logic and Computation: A Rosetta Stone

Physics, Topology, Logic and Computation: A Rosetta Stone by John C. Baez and Mike Stay, 2009.

In physics, Feynman diagrams are used to reason about quantum processes. In the 1980s, it became clear
that underlying these diagrams is a powerful analogy between quantum physics and topology. Namely, a linear
operator behaves very much like a `cobordism': a manifold representing spacetime, going between two
manifolds representing space. This led to a burst of work on topological quantum field theory and `quantum
topology'. But this was just the beginning: similar diagrams can be used to reason about logic, where
they represent proofs, and computation, where they represent programs. With the rise of interest in quantum
cryptography and quantum computation, it became clear that there is extensive network of analogies between
physics, topology, logic and computation. In this expository paper, we make some of these analogies precise
using the concept of `closed symmetric monoidal category'. We assume no prior knowledge of category
theory, proof theory or computer science.

I am not sure whether this should be categorized as "Fun" instead of "Theory", given that "We assume no prior knowledge of category theory, proof theory or computer science".

At least one pair from the title (logic and computation) should ring some bells...

Colorful dominoes game hides an exercise in propositional logic

Dominoes on Acid is a game superficially similar to the classic dominoes game. You get tiles with patterns on each end, and you can connect the ends of two tiles only when they show the same pattern. But instead of the standard two-color tiles spots, the tiles in Dominoes on Acid have (sometimes very complex) multi-colored patterns. Spoiler about 'proof in classical propositional logic' on authors site: http://www.winterdrache.de/freeware/domino/index.html