LEAP: A language with eval and polymorphism

Abstract

We describe the core of a new strongly-typed functional programming language called LEAP, a “Language with Eval And Polymorphism.” Pure LEAP is an extension of the ω-order polymorphic λ-calculus (Fω) by global definitions that allows the representation of programs and the definition of versions of reify, reflect, and eval for all of (Fω). Pure LEAP is therefore highly reflexive and strongly typed. We believe that Pure LEAP can be extended to a practical and efficient metalanguage in the ML tradition. At present we are experimenting with a prototype implementation of Pure LEAP.