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Fri Jan 21 11:36:03 EST 2011

Racket-based DSP eDSL specs: simple abstract interpretation.

Deliverables
------------
  - Simple DSL, should really not be more than algebra.
  - API Code analysis through multiple interpretations (abstract interpretation)


General Architecture
--------------------

I'd like to take the best ideas from the Carette, Kyseljov, Chan in
their typed approach (MetaOCaml and Haskell) and apply them to my more
familiar Racket (PLT Scheme) environment:

  - Syntax as functions instead of data structures, implemented as
    module _interfaces_.  ( I think this is the initial vs. final
    algebra idea -> FIXME: expand on this. ).  The

  - Abstract domains interpretations implemented as module _instances_.


In Racket it seems a good approach is the "sandwich" architecture.

  * Application components are implemented as units in terms of the
    num^ signature which implements the abstract domain on which the
    code operates.  The programmer has complete freedom in naming and
    composing units.

  * Analysis and code generation are performed by instantiationg the
    num^ signature over different data types on one side, and
    providing different analysis methods on the other side for the
    exports defined by the application components.

An example: to perform code generation, the monad approach can be
side-stepped, and the num^ operations can be implemented in a stateful
manner, i.e. using scheme parameters, with the top level defined by
the driver side of the sandwich.

This trades some risk for a simpler interface.  This was the hardest
decision, as it cuts the deepest.  I intend to make up for the lack of
static typing and referential transparency by providing many abstract
domains for analysis.  An advantage is that the recently proposed
partial-continuation approach to code generation probably can be used
without too much adaptation.


Implementation and Sugar
------------------------

I would like to use a scheme #lang that has the following two elements:

  - Phase 0 bindings all defined as abstract operations in terms of
    the num^ interface, allowing different interpretations.

  - Macro language is scheme with all usual bindings available to
    construct non-functional compile time DSL language features.

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