Wednesday / CS Seminar

October 16th / 12:00 PM

Hybrid / Mudd 3514

Speaker

Christos Dimoulas, Northwestern University

Talk Title

The Rational Programmer, A Method for Investigating Programming Language Pragmatics

Abstract

"The work of software developers directly depends on decisions that

language creators make for them. Therefore, when language creators choose

from a number of design alternatives, they should consider how their

choices affect the developers. Specifically, language creators should

consider the use of a language feature in particular work contexts, an

idea analogous to what linguists call ``pragmatics.'' However, so far,

there are only a few instruments for investigating Programming Language

(PL) pragmatics.

To address this gap, I have developed a new scientific instrument called

the Rational Programmer. At the technical level, the Rational Programmer

method puts the idea of simulation, a technique with a long history in

Computer Science, to new use in PL research. The heart of a

rational-programmer simulation is an algorithmic abstraction of using a

language feature for information gathering, interpretation and action in a

work context. Typically, a rational-programmer simulation produces a

recommendation for a use strategy that a developer can employ while

working in the given context. It may also identify a problematic aspect of

a feature's design with concrete evidence, which then the creators and

developers can leverage to address the problem. Finally, a

rational-programmer simulation can inform instructors how to teach

students the effective use of a feature. In this talk, I will demonstrate

the workings of the Rational Programmer method with examples."

Biography

Christos is an assistant professor of Computer Science at Northwestern

University. The goal of his research is to understand how Programming

Language techniques can improve the work life of software developers.

Research/Interest Areas:

Programming Languages

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Zoom: https://northwestern.zoom.us/j/99788665335

Panopto: https://northwestern.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=44a7f2e8-bcaf-4f82-beba-b1fd014323d7

DEI Minute: TBA