cse130

A Programming Language

Two Variables

x, y

Three Operations

x++
x--
x = 0 ? L1 : L2

Example Program

(What does it do?)

L1: x++
    y--
    y = 0 ? L2 : L1
L2: ...

The above language is “equivalent to” every PL!

But good luck writing

… QuickSort
… Zelda
… Spotify!

So Why Study Programming Languages?

A different language is a different vision of life.

So Why Study Programming Languages?

The principle of linguistic relativity holds that the structure of a language affects its speakers world view or cognition.

Or more simply:

Programming Language shapes Programming Thought.

Language affects how ideas and computation are expressed

Course Goals

New languages come (and go …)

There was no

Java 25 years ago
C# 20 years ago
Rust 10 years ago
WebAssembly 2 years ago

What is CSE 130 about?

Concepts in programming languages
Programming paradigms
Language design and implementation

Goal: Learn the Anatomy of PL

What makes a programming language?
Which features are fundamental and which are syntactic sugar?

Goal: Learn New Languages / Constructs

New ways to describe and organize computation, to create programs that are:

Correct
Readable
Extendable
Reusable

Goal: How to Design new Languages

New hot languages being designed in industry as we speak:

Flow, React @ Facebook
Rust @ Mozilla
TypeScript @ Microsoft
Swift @ Apple
WebAssembly @ Google + Mozilla + Microsoft

Buried in every large system is a (domain-specific) language

DB: SQL
Word, Excel: Formulas, Macros, VBScript
Emacs: LISP
Latex, shell scripts, makefiles, …

If you work on a large system, you will design a new PL!

Goal: Enable You To Choose Right PL

But isn’t that decided by

Libraries
Standards
Hiring
Your Boss?!

Yes.

My goal: Educate tomorrow’s leaders so you’ll make informed choices.

What is CSE 130 not about?

Learning…

JavaScript in April
Haskell in May
C++ in June

etc.

Who am I?

Ranjit Jhala

Professor at CSE since 2005
Research: Tools and Techniques to make programs better

The Crew

Teaching Assistants

Michael Borkowski
Matt Kolosick
George Sakkas

Tutors

David Cao
Aidan Denlinger

Course Syllabus

Functional Programming

Lambda calculus (2 weeks)
Haskell (6 weeks)

Logic Programming

Prolog (2 weeks)

QuickSort in C

void sort(int arr[], int beg, int end){
  if (end > beg + 1){
    int piv = arr[beg];
    int l = beg + 1;
    int r = end;
    while (l != r-1)
       if(arr[l] <= piv) l++;
       else swap(&arr[l], &arr[r--]);
    if(arr[l]<=piv && arr[r]<=piv)
       l=r+1;
    else if(arr[l]<=piv && arr[r]>piv)
       {l++; r--;}
    else if (arr[l]>piv && arr[r]<=piv)
       swap(&arr[l++], &arr[r--]);
    else r=l-1;
    swap(&arr[r--], &arr[beg]);
    sort(arr, beg, r);
    sort(arr, l, end);
  }
}

QuickSort in Haskell

sort []     = []
sort (x:xs) = sort ls ++ [x] ++ sort rs
  where
    ls      = [ l | l <- xs, l <= x ]
    rs      = [ r | r <- xs, x <  r ]

(not a wholly fair comparison…)

Course Logistics

webpage

Calendar
Lecture notes
Programming assignments

piazza

Go-to place if you have a question or need help

Grading

45% Assignments
25% Midterm (Mon Feb 8)
30% Final (Thu Mar 18)
05% Piazza Extra Credit
- To top 20 best participants

Assignments

6 programming assignments

Released online
At least a week before due date
On github

Eight late days

used as whole unit
5 mins late = 1 late day

Groups of two can do assignments together

On ieng6 or your own machine
Submit individually (via github)

Exams

Asynchronous but over 24 hour period

Midterm

Monday, Feb 8

Final

Thursday, March 18
2-sided “cheat sheet”
The final is cumulative
Midterm grade is calculated as midterm > 0 ? max(final, midterm) : 0
- you get a second chance if you don’t do well on the midterm
- you must take the midterm and the final

Your Resources

Discussion section

Wednesday 05:00-06:00pm (see CANVAS for ZOOM)

Office hours

Every day, check CANVAS calendar

Piazza

We answer during work hours and office hours (M-F)

No text

Online lecture notes and links

Academic Integrity

Programming assignments: do not copy from classmates or from previous years

Exams done alone

Zero Tolerance
Offenders punished ruthlessly
Please see academic integrity statement

Students with Disabilites

Students requesting accommodations for this course due to a disability or current functional limitation must provide a current Authorization for Accommodation (AFA) letter issued by the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) which is located in University Center 202 behind Center Hall.

Students are required to present their AFA letters to Faculty (please make arrangements to contact me privately) and to the CSE OSD Liaison Christina Rontell in advance so that accommodations may be arranged.

Diversity and Inclusion

Goal

Create a diverse and inclusive learning environment
Where all students feel comfortable and can thrive.
Please let us know if there is a way to make you feel more included
In person, via email/discussion boar

Expectations

Students will honor and respect your classmates!
Abide by the UCSD Principles of Community
Understand that others’ backgrounds, perspectives and experiences will be different
Help build an environment where everyone is respected and comfortable.

If you experience any harassment or discrimination

Contact the Office of Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination

Students may receive confidential assistance

Sexual Assault Resource Center at (858) 534-5793
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at (858) 534-3755.

Basic Needs

Are you eating properly?
Do you have adequate access to nutritious food?
Do you have stable housing?
Are you homeless or couch surfing?

If you or someone you know has food and/or housing insecurity, be aware of Basic Needs

The Triton Food Pantry (in the old Student Center), is free and anonymous, and includes produce.
Financial aid resources, the possibility of emergency grant funding, and off-campus housing referral resources are available.
CAPS and college deans can connect students to the above resources, as well as other community resources and support.