Equivalence in functional languages with effects

• DOI: 10.1017/s0956796800000125
• Publication Date: 2008-11-07T16:14:35Z
• Authors: Ian Mason; Carolyn Talcott
• Keywords: Functional equivalence

Abstract Traditionally the view has been that direct expression of control and store mechanisms clear mathematical semantics are incompatible requirements. This paper shows adding objects with memory to call-by-value lambda calculus results in a language rich equational theory, satisfying many usual laws. Combined other recent work, this provides evidence expressive, mathematically clean programming languages indeed possible.