Onward! 2017
Sun 22 - Fri 27 October 2017 Vancouver, Canada
co-located with SPLASH 2017
Wed 25 Oct 2017 16:15 - 17:00 at Regency B - Essays Chair(s): Robert Biddle

Programming language research is becoming method conscious. Rigorous mathematical or empirical evaluation is often demanded, which is a good thing. However, I argue in this essay that concept analysis is a legitimate research approach in programming languages, with important limitations. It can be used to sharpen vague concepts, and to expose distinctions that have previously been overlooked, but it does not demonstrate the superiority of one language design over another. Arguments and counter-arguments are essential to successful concept analysis, and such thoughtful conversations should be published more.

Antti-Juhani Kaijanaho had taught programming language and software engineering related topics at the University of Jyväskylä for over a decade when he completed his dissertation “Evidence-Based Programming Language Design: A Philosophical and Methodological Exploration” in 2015. He currently serves the University of Jyväskylä Faculty of Information Technology as a University Teacher.

Wed 25 Oct

Displayed time zone: Tijuana, Baja California change

15:30 - 17:00
EssaysOnward! Essays at Regency B
Chair(s): Robert Biddle Carleton University
15:30
45m
Talk
Some Were Meant For C: The endurance of an unmanageable language
Onward! Essays
Stephen Kell University of Cambridge
16:15
45m
Talk
Concept Analysis in Programming Language Research: Done Well It Is All Right
Onward! Essays
A: Antti-Juhani Kaijanaho University of Jyväskylä
DOI Pre-print