Jeremy Gibbons

This book is devoted to five main principles of algorithm design: divide and conquer, greedy algorithms, thinning, dynamic programming, and exhaustive search. These principles are presented using Haskell, a purely functional language, leading to simpler explanations and shorter programs than would be obtained with imperative languages. Carefully selected examples, both new and standard, reveal the commonalities and highlight the differences between algorithms. The algorithm developments use equational reasoning where applicable, clarifying the applicability conditions and correctness arguments. Every chapter concludes with exercises (nearly 300 in total), each with complete answers, allowing the reader to consolidate their understanding and apply the techniques to a range of problems. The book serves students (both undergraduate and postgraduate), researchers, teachers, and professionals who want to know more about what goes into a good algorithm and how such algorithms can be expressed in purely functional terms.

What will be the next revolution in software technology to follow XML and generics? Whatever it may be, it is likely to come from functional programming, where many of the key ideas of the last decade originated. In this textbook, the leading researchers of the field take you on a tour of the current hot topics in functional programming, with applications ranging from financial contracts to circuit design. There are also chapters on new idioms for structuring programs, such as monads and arrows. All new concepts are illustrated with many examples, and exercises appear throughout to further enliven the material. Several of the chapters describe a substantial piece of software, and most of these programs are collected on a website for free downloading.This book was edited in honour of Richard S.Bird, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Oxford, on his 60th birthday.

What will be the next revolution in software technology to follow XML and generics? Whatever it may be, it is likely to come from functional programming, where many of the key ideas of the last decade originated. In this textbook, the leading researchers of the field take you on a tour of the current hot topics in functional programming, with applications ranging from financial contracts to circuit design. There are also chapters on new idioms for structuring programs, such as monads and arrows. All new concepts are illustrated with many examples, and exercises appear throughout to further enliven the material. Several of the chapters describe a substantial piece of software, and most of these programs are collected on a website for free downloading.This book was edited in honour of Richard S.Bird, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Oxford, on his 60th birthday.