How to design co-programs. (2nd July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: GIBBONS, JEREMY
• Is Part Of: Journal of functional programming. Volume 31(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-07-02
• Subjects: Functional programming (Computer science) -- Periodicals
• DOI: 10.1017/S0956796821000113
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0956-7968

Abstract

Abstract: The observation that program structure follows data structure is a key lesson in introductory programming: good hints for possible program designs can be found by considering the structure of the data concerned. In particular, this lesson is a core message of the influential textbook "How to Design Programs" by Felleisen, Findler, Flatt, and Krishnamurthi. However, that book discusses using only the structure of input data for guiding program design, typically leading towards structurally recursive programs. We argue that novice programmers should also be taught to consider the structure of output data, leading them also towards structurally corecursive programs.