DR MALCOLM WALLACE contact details blog

RESEARCH My current short-term research is into efficient compilation of multi-dimensional numeric array computations, based on the FlatPack library in Haskell. This takes a lightweight domain-specific language approach to specifying the computation, with a simple "compiler" implementation embedded within the library. Directions to explore include fusion of operations to reduce the number of traversals of arrays, and the number of intermediate arrays allocated. My most recent funded research was on a collaborative project entitled A Lazy Polytypic Grid, and involved recasting algorithms for visualisation of large scientific datasets into a setting like Haskell. We made the algorithm code more readable as a specification; we made it more lazy in order to reduce memory and network bandwidth; used datatype-generic mechanisms such that the algorithms can be expressed independently of data representation; and finally, we hoped to make it all work seamlessly over Grid computing networks, but failed in this aspect. Prior to that, my research project within the High Integrity Software Engineering group was to investigate static analysis and automated testing for model-based development of high-integrity real-time systems. I developed a small language for expressing failure propagation and transformation behaviour of components, together with a graphical tool which automates the global analysis of a whole system based on the fixed-point of the failure-propagation. Other projects I have participated in include: Hat: a tracer/debugger for Haskell'98 using Advanced Redex Trails. HaXml: tools for query/view/transformation (QVT) processing of XML documents based on a Haskell combinator library, and also type-based translation from DTDs to programming language types. Functional languages for embedded systems, focusing on reducing the memory footprint of compiled Haskell, and including an investigation of novel techniques for heap compression, and methods for interfacing to foreign code. Maintenance of the nhc98 compiler and associated toolsets for Haskell.

ME I'm a post-doctoral researcher in the programming languages and systems group, in the Department of Computer Science at the University of York, UK. The City of York is my home. In April 2010, I will be leaving the university to work for Standard Chartered Bank. They are interested in using Haskell to build systems for the financial derivatives markets, and furthermore, in developing lightweight domain-specific language approaches to solving problems. Broadly speaking, my research interests involve the design, implementation, and application of domain-specific programming languages, primarily using the functional language Haskell. If you are interested in studying for a PhD with a topic anywhere in the area of language processing (compiling, interpreting, optimising, debugging, refactoring, etc), I will be happy to discuss possibilities with you. TEACHING I teach the 3rd-year undergraduate CGO module (Code Generation and Optimisation). I have some suggestions for final year projects based on compiler construction. CAREER I started in this Dept as an undergraduate on the single-subject MEng in Computer Systems and Software Engineering, and progressed to a DPhil in Functional Programming and Embedded Systems, before working as a post-doc for over fifteen years. I have experience of working in industry (at BT's Martlesham Labs), and with industrial research partners (at Canon Europe, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, and QinetiQ).

SOFTWARE

PUBLICATIONS

Hat: a Haskell tracer The nhc98 Haskell compiler hmake: a `make' utility for Haskell programs HaXml: processing XML documents in Haskell Xtract: a `grep'-like tool for XML documents cpphs: a simple Haskell replacement for the C pre-processor hscolour: syntax-colourise Haskell code for tty or HTML output polyparse: lazy/partial parser combinators remorse: the winner of the 0th International Obfuscated Haskell Contest goferp: a version of gofer-2.28 extended to produce heap profiles Embedded Gofer: a version of gofer-2.21 extended with concurrent threads, interrupts, and a scheduler PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES I was a member of the programme committees for the following recent conferences: ACM Haskell Workshop 2002 ACM Haskell Workshop 2005 Implementation and Application of Functional Languages (IFL) 2007 ACM Haskell Symposium 2010 and I have reviewed papers for journals such as: Software Practice and Experience, The Computer Journal, Journal of Functional Programming, and for conferences like IFL, ICFP, PLDI, IEEE Vis, etc. I am a member of the Haskell Prime language standardisation committee, and am errata-editor for the previous standard, Haskell'98.

Huge Data but Small Programs: Visualization Design via Multiple Embedded DSLs, Proceedings of PADL, pp.31-45, Jan 2009, LNCS 5418. (slides) Functional Streaming, Half-day tutorial at IEEE VisWeek 2008. Experience Report: Visualising Data through Functional Pipelines, Proceedings of ICFP, pp.379-382, Sept 2008, ACM Press. Partial parsing: combining choice with commitment, Proceedings of IFL, Sept 2007, pp.93-110, LNCS 5083. Multi-cultural visualization: how functional programming can enrich visualization (and vice versa), Vision, Modelling and Visualization, Nov 2006. Fine-Grained Visualization Pipelines and Lazy Functional Languages, Proceedings of IEEE Visualisation, Nov 2006. Modular Architectural Representation and Analysis of Fault Propagation and Transformation, Proceedings of FESCA, ENTCS 141(3), April 2005. Transforming Haskell for Tracing, Proceedings of IFL, LNCS, Sept 2002. Testing and Tracing Lazy Functional Programs using QuickCheck and Hat, Summer School in AFP, LNCS 2638, Aug 2002. Multiple-View Tracing for Haskell: a New Hat, ACM Haskell Workshop, ENTCS 59, Sept 2001. Freja, Hat and Hood - A Comparative Evaluation of Three Systems for Tracing and Debugging Lazy Functional Programs, Proceedings of IFL, LNCS 2011, Sept 2000. Haskell and XML: Generic Combinators or Type-Based Translation, ACM Proceedings of ICFP, Sept 1999. The Bits Between The Lambdas: Binary Data in a Lazy Functional Language, ACM Proceedings of ISMM, October 1998. Heap Compression and Binary I/O in Haskell, Proceedings of Haskell Workshop, June 1997. Lambdas in the Liftshaft - Functional Programming and an Embedded Architecture, ACM Proceedings of FPCA, June 1995. Functional Programming and Embedded Systems, DPhil Thesis, University of York YCST95/04, January 1995. Extending a Functional Programming System for Embedded Applications, Software Practice and Experience, January 1995. Typechecked Message-Passing Between Functional Processes, Proceedings of Glasgow Functional Programming Workshop, September 1994. An Incremental Garbage Collector for Embedded Real-Time Systems, Proceedings of Chalmers Winter Meeting, June 1993. DRAFTS hi - hmake interactive - Compiler or Interpreter?, Sept 2000. GreenCard: a foreign language interface for Haskell, revised (co-author, Nov 1997) version of paper in Haskell Workshop, June 1997.