Koffect Programming Language

• Koffect Programming Language
  • Koffect
  • Language Goals
  • How to Install
    • Build from Source
  • How to Use
  • Syntax Examples
  • Feature List
  • Inspirations / Prior Arts / Similar Features

Koffect

Welcome to Koffect!

A research language focusing on the applications of context-oriented/context-aware programming to general purpose programming. From applications of contextual rigor (such as mathematical proof writing), to resource management (such as opening and closing files/connections/sockets), to domain specific languages, programming contains a lot of implicit contexts and mental context management. This project aims to create a language around the concept of explicit contexts to reduce the mental gymnastics and boilerplate needed to maintain context dependent code.

Language Goals

The goal of this language is to research and implement a general purpose programming language specializing in context-oriented programming.

Some areas of focus that this project hopes to tackle are:

• The application of context-oriented programming to tackle metaprogramming challenges
• The application of context-oriented programming to ensure code correctness, through the modelling of context dependent fields such as mathematical correctness or asynchronous code
• The application of context-oriented programming to model real world contextual dependent situations in code with minimal boilerplate
• The application of context-oriented programming to the creation and modelling of domain specific languages

How to Install

Build from Source

TODO: Gradle scripts not finalized

How to Use

TODO: Gradle scripts not finalized

Syntax Examples

TODO: Finalization of language in progress

Feature List

TODO: Finalization of language in progress

Inspirations / Prior Arts / Similar Features

• Effects Bibliography
  • Collection of relative literature applying to algebraic effects (and coeffects by proxy)
• Koka
  • Language implementing algebraic effect handlers with lexical effect tracking
• Eff
  • Language implementing algebraic effect handlers working on general first-class computational effects
• Effekt
  • Language implementing algebraic effect handlers with effect safety and effect polymorphism following Scala syntax
• Coeffect
  • Language implementing algebraic coeffects through implicit parameters
• OCaml Multicore
  • Ocaml 5.0 Multicore added unchecked effect handlers for concurrent programming
• Kotlin Context Receivers
  • Kotlin 1.6.20 added experimental support for functions with multiple receivers, also coined as context receivers
  • Kotlin updated the design proposal to Context Parameters
• Scala contextual/implicit parameters
  • Scala 2 has contextual/implicit parameters which were later refined in Scala 3 to use the using/given syntax
• Haskell implicit parameters
  • Haskell implements implicit parameters as part of type system leading to full type system security with implicit parameters
• Python Context Managers
  • Python implements context handlers with the __enter__ and __exit__ methods to model runtime defined contexts
• Ruby Refinements
  • Ruby implements lexical monkey patching (introduction of a context into a scope) with refinements
• Javascript Explicit Resource Management
  • Javascript TC39 proposal (currently) in stage 3 of adding resource managers using the using keyword and Symbol.dispose method
• C# using and IDisposable
  • C# resource management through the use of the IDisposable interface and using keyword
• Java try-with-resource and AutoCloseable
  • Java resource management through the use of the Closeable and AutoCloseable interfaces with the try keyword