User:EngineerScotty/Programming Language Theory
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Welcome!
This is the proposed project page for the proposed programming language theory (PLT) WikiProject.
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
While Wikipedia has a lot of articles on programming languages and aspects of programming language theory, there is a bit of information on the discipline which is poorly-organized and/or not very accurate. Hence this project.
The charter proposal, as copied from Wikipedia:Wikiproject/List of proposed projects, with section headers interspersed.
[edit] Purpose
Description: Organizes and edits articles on the theory of programming languages, as well as technical issues related to their design and construction. Examples of likely topics would include:
- Formal models and calculii (the Lambda Calculus, the process calculii, etc).
- Compiler construction (parsing, lexing, semantic analysis, code generation, etc).
- Type theory and type systems
- Possibly, discussion of research programming languages
- Related areas in mathematics, i.e. computability theory
- Runtime design and implementation--topics such as garbage collection, virtual machines (in the context of programming languages), linkers and program loaders, etc.
- Programming paradigms.
- Other topics which are covered by the charter but which I haven't thought about.
[edit] Not the purpose
There currently exists a Wikipedia:WikiProject Programming languages which is flagged as inactive, this existing project seems to focus on the following practical subjects:
- Cataloguing articles about programming languages themselves, and about popular implementations thereof
- Detailed topics on specific programming languages
In addition, many of the topics listed in the charter already have excellent articles on Wikipedia; this project wouldn't attempt any "hostile takeovers" on such (other than providing navboxes and the like).
More to come later... I'll flesh out the project template. --EngineerScotty 00:22, 29 January 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Principles
Obviously, the main principles of Wikipedia are important, and apply to this (and every) WikiProject. Of particular importance is No Original Research; PLT is a rapidly moving, leading-edge field. Participants must be careful to ensure that Wikipedia only reflects results which are published and well-known (among PLT researchers). Wikipedia is not the place for new theories, speculation and conjecture, and other original research. (Well-established conjecture such as the Church-Turing Thesis is naturally welcome; provided it is so identified).
Nor is Wikipedia the place for "vanity" publishing or promotion of ideas. Commercial advertising, SPAM, and such are obviously prohibited.
Beyond that, have fun!
[edit] List of Members
People who are interested, just put your name at the end of the list. (Or, if you are a Lisp programmer, at the beginning).
- EngineerScotty 04:19, 29 January 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Ongoing issues/to-do list
Right now, this proposal is only a couple hours old (as I write this, not necessarily as you read this); the main concern is gauging interest among the Wikipedia community. One article which I will soon go write is programming language theory; I'm surprised that Wikipedia doesn't (as of Jan 28 2006) have an article on our favorite topic.
If there's interest (at least 5-10 volunteers), then we can become an official project, and get to the business of editing articles.
[edit] Comments
Please add comments here, or on the talk page.
