ChapterZero

I have been trying to read some stuff on exact computation with real numbers, mostly stuff by Edalat and Potts, off and on for the past couple of years. My latest attempt was Potts’ PhD thesis, which uses some concepts from category theory and domain theory. So I figured I might as well bite the bullet and pick that stuff up. Hence the last post on category theory. I’ve since admitted to myself that pure category theory is entirely too abstract for me at this point, so I’m approaching it in a piecemeal way through slightly less esoteric applications, at least until the subject becomes more ‘naturally motivated’ to me. The best such approach seems to be through computer science, specifically in the application of category theory to the study of the semantics of computer languages (i.e. in forming formal models of the meanings of computer programs).

I have virtually no knowledge in the area of programming language theory– the award for most theoretical computer science book I’ve ever read goes to either the Dragon book or Dick Grune’s parser book; neither of which I’ve made significant dents in– but so far, I’m not doing too bad at understanding this semantics business. I almost read the entire first chapter last night, just two pages remaining. As usual with unfamiliar material however, the early stuff is fuzzy, so I’m going to reread the chapter at least once before moving on.

This promises to be a long detour from my main intention, but it might turn out to be scenic. And who knows, maybe even useful in the long run.

Possibly relevant posts:

• From thought to programming (3/12/2002)
• Joys of Python (5/16/2005)
• the Ideal Graphing Calculator (2/24/2005)