Links

Signal Processing

Wavelets, Multiscale, Multiresolution, Fractional Phenomena

Wavelet.Org (Lucent Technologies: Bell Labs Innovations: Mathematical Sciences Research)

Programming

Functional Programming

Meta Language (ML) (C++ - like semantics, without C++ polymorphism, with template-like “parametric” polymorphism, modules and functors instead of classes, cleaner syntax, etc.) Evolved from Scheme, which evolved from Lisp.

SML (Standard ML) and Objective Caml have been the most used ML dialects. SML97 is a mature, stable computer language for symbolic calculations. It has a formal, published syntax specification, just as Pascal programs do. As SML has gone as far as it can go without redesign. The new effort is currently being called Successor ML.

Standard ML of New Jersey (Bell Labs) An SML principal at Bell Labs had had an office next to Bjarne Stroustrup for 10 years when I discussed the languages with Stroustroup.

MLton An open-source, whole-program, optimizing Standard ML compiler. Highly efficient run time and follows the published reference for SML97, especially "Vector." As of August 26, MLton is available for 64 bits.

Moscow ML (Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics, Moscow, Cambridge U, IT University of Copenhagen and Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denmark) A light-weight implementation of SML97, version 2.01 implements the full SML97 language, including SML Modules, and much of the SML Basis Library. For what is implemented, it follows the published reference for SML97, especially "Vector."

Poly/ML (PolyML.Org) (formerly sold by Abstract, Inc., now free software) It is unclear to what degree version 5 actually follows the published reference for SML97, especially "Vector."

HaMLet is a reference implementation of SML97. HaMLet S incorporates proposals for Successor ML (sML). It represents a testbed and sort of a personal vision of what sML might become.

Alice ML (Saarland University) A functional programming language based on Standard ML, extended with rich support for concurrent, distributed, and constraint programming, Alice ML is very useful on an MS Windows desktop.

Objective CAML, Objective Caml, OCaml, Ocaml, Caml (INRIA, France) This is probably near the form that Successor ML will take. In a pun, CAML represented the Categorical Abstract Machine Language and also represented Meta Language. Objective Caml has less English documentation than SML97 and depends on SML97 for documentation. Objective Caml is a gift of the French people. It is probably the most popular ML dialect and has the most contributions, including constraint programming.

F# (Pronounced F sharp, Microsoft Research) A Microsoft .Net programming language. Takes it cue from Objective Caml. Not free for commercial use.

Haskell (see Haskell.org) Haskell is nearly as fully declarative as symbolic mathematics with pencil and paper. Haskell evolved from SML. Microsoft Corporation has hired many of the Haskell principals. Haskell is an open source language.

Logic Programming

Mercury addresses many Prolog problems, has higher order logic and functional programming facilities. It also has Microsoft support.

Maude (SRI, International and University of Illinois at Champagne-Urbana) A Rewriting Logic system

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 Last modified: October 1, 2007