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For anyone that uses an ML (e.g. OCaml), Haskell or Scala, Milner was responsible for the Hindley-Milner type system and inference algorithm that sits at the f
by fadmmatt 17y ago
For anyone that uses an ML (e.g. OCaml), Haskell or Scala, Milner was responsible for the Hindley-Milner type system and inference algorithm that sits at the foundation of these languages.
It ignited a wave of research into type theory that continues to this day, yet in many ways, Hindley-Milner is still the most significant contribution to the field.
I remember reading his original paper on polymorphic typing for my qualifiers and being struck by the elegance and approachability of his writing.
Well worth a read.
- j_baker 17y agoAny chance you could post some info about the paper? I've been itching to learn more about how type inferencing (especially polymorphic type inferencing) works. EDIT: I don't know if it's the paper you were referring to, but I did find this: http://groups.csail.mit.edu/pag/6.883/readings/p207-damas.pdf http://groups.csail.mit.edu/pag/6.883/readings/p207-damas.pd...
- fadmmatt 17y agoMilner, Robin (1978), "A Theory of Type Polymorphism in Programming", Jcss 17: 348–375 I don't know if there's a free copy online anywhere. The Damas-Milner paper is the sequel; it presents an alternate algorithm for type inference. Benjamin Pierce's "Orange Book" is one of the best references now.
- baguasquirrel 17y agohttp://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=A+Theory+of+Type+Polymorphism+in+Programming&hl=en&btnG=Search&as_sdt=2001&as_sdtp=on http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=A+Theory+of+Type+Polymor... First link.