CITS 3242
Programming Paradigms
Lecture 1:
Introduction and Motivation
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Quote
A language that doesn't affect the way you
think about programming is not worth
knowing.
-- Alan Perlis (Turing Awardee, 1966)
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What is this unit about?
What exactly is a programming paradigm?
◦ A paradigm is a “philosophical or theoretical
framework of any kind” (Merriam-Webster).
Object-orientation is a paradigm you
should all be familiar with.
This unit focuses on alternative
paradigms.
◦ Including comparisons and interactions with
mainstream paradigms.
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What paradigms will we see?
Functional Programming
◦ Based on defining mathematical functions.
Concurrent Programming
◦ Allows many things to happen concurrently.
Logic Programming
◦ Based on logical deduction from a set of rules.
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Languages
Programming languages are generally
designed with one paradigm in mind.
◦ E.g., Java is designed for object-orientation.
We’ll use two languages in this unit:
◦ Microsoft’s functional/multiparadigm language
F#, which supports concurrency and objects.
◦ The logic programming language Prolog
(briefly).
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Why learn alternative paradigms &
languages?
Because they make different tradeoffs, and
so can make programming easier
sometimes.
◦ Also, for a deeper understanding of the
mainstream.
Because they may become mainstream.
◦ Object orientation was once “alternative”.
Because they influence the mainstream.
◦ E.g., garbage collection from functional
languages (and much more).
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Why learn alt. paradigms & languages?
Because it will broaden the way you think about
programming, and help you solve problems in new
ways.
Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis: (linguistics) We dissect nature along lines
laid down by our native language
Boole: Language is an instrument of human reason, not merely a
medium for the expression of thought
[An Investigation of the Laws of Thought, 1854]
Orwell: The purpose of Newspeak was not only to provide a medium of
expression for the world-view and mental habits proper to the devotees
of Ingsoc, but to make all other modes of thought impossible
[1984, 1949]
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Why learn alternative paradigms &
languages?
Because it will prepare you for future
paradigms & languages.
Because it will help you in comparing
languages.
Because it will help you understand
languages at a deeper level, instead of just
the syntax or sales pitch.
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Why Functional Programming?
Functional programming is one of the oldest
paradigms.
◦ Lisp originated in 1958!
◦ It is still widely used, and has been highly
influential.
Functional programming can be very elegant,
and has a strong mathematical foundation.
It is the “next big thing”.
Many other paradigms can be neatly
interpreted in terms of functional
programming.
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Why Concurrent Programming?
Because concurrency is required by the real
world.
Because multi-core programming requires
concurrency.
Because concurrent programming is difficult
to get right.
Because comparing concurrent paradigms
shows just how different solutions to a
problem can be.
Because functional programming provides
solutions to some issues in concurrency.
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Why Logic Programming?
Because it has a long history.
Because it allows certain things that are
difficult in other paradigms.
Because it is a very different paradigm to
the mainstream.
So that we can relate it to functional
programming.
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