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What is a categorical model of arrows?

Atkey, Robert (2011) What is a categorical model of arrows? In: Electronic Notes in Theoretical Computer Science. Elsevier, pp. 19-37.

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    Abstract

    We investigate what the correct categorical formulation of Hughes’ Arrows should be. It has long been folklore that Arrows, a functional programming construct, and Freyd categories, a categorical notion due to Power, Robinson and Thielecke, are somehow equivalent. In this paper, we show that the situation is more subtle. By considering Arrows wholly within the base category we derive two alternative formulations of Freyd category that are equivalent to Arrows—enriched Freyd categories and indexed Freyd categories. By imposing a further condition, we characterise those indexed Freyd categories that are isomorphic to Freyd categories. The key differentiating point is the number of inputs available to a computation and the structure available on them, where structured input is modelled using comonads.

    Item type: Book Section
    ID code: 34344
    Keywords: arrows, categorical model, functional programming , Electronic computers. Computer science
    Subjects: Science > Mathematics > Electronic computers. Computer science
    Department: Faculty of Science > Computer and Information Sciences
    Related URLs:
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date Deposited: 12 Nov 2011 10:06
    Last modified: 24 Mar 2012 02:11
    URI: http://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/34344

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