Program development using lambda abstraction

Abstract

We study the problem of avoiding multiple traversals of data structures in functional programming. A solution proposed in [Bir84] makes use of lazy evaluation and local recursion. We show that analogous perfomances can be achieved using higher order functions and lambda abstractions. The solution we propose works for the call-by-value evaluation rule and it does not require local recursion. We also show through some examples that higher order functions allow us to simulate the use of pointers of a Pascal-like language. We finally spend a few words on a theory of strategies for program development.