Modular session types for objects

Session types allow communication protocols to be specified type-theoretically so that protocol implementations can be verified by static type checking. We extend previous work on session types for distributed object-oriented languages in three ways. (1) We attach a session type to a class definitio...

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Published in:arXiv.org
Main Authors: Gay, Simon J, Gesbert, Nils, Ravara, António, Vasconcelos, Vasco T
Format: Paper
Language:English
Published: Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 23.12.2015
Subjects:
Algorithms
Channels
Communication channels
Object oriented programming
Object-oriented languages
Sound
ISSN:2331-8422
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Session types allow communication protocols to be specified type-theoretically so that protocol implementations can be verified by static type checking. We extend previous work on session types for distributed object-oriented languages in three ways. (1) We attach a session type to a class definition, to specify the possible sequences of method calls. (2) We allow a session type (protocol) implementation to be modularized, i.e. partitioned into separately-callable methods. (3) We treat session-typed communication channels as objects, integrating their session types with the session types of classes. The result is an elegant unification of communication channels and their session types, distributed object-oriented programming, and a form of typestate supporting non-uniform objects, i.e. objects that dynamically change the set of available methods. We define syntax, operational se-mantics, a sound type system, and a sound and complete type checking algorithm for a small distributed class-based object-oriented language with structural subtyping. Static typing guarantees that both sequences of messages on channels, and sequences of method calls on objects, conform to type-theoretic specifications, thus ensuring type-safety. The language includes expected features of session types, such as delegation, and expected features of object-oriented programming, such as encapsulation of local state.
Bibliography:SourceType-Working Papers-1
ObjectType-Working Paper/Pre-Print-1
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ISSN:2331-8422
DOI:10.48550/arxiv.1205.5344