Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2023 - CMPT 383 D100

Comparative Programming Languages (3)

Class Number: 6146

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 6 – Dec 5, 2023: Thu, 8:30–11:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    CMPT 225 and (MACM 101 or (ENSC 251 and ENSC 252)), all with a minimum grade of C-.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Various concepts and principles underlying the design and use of modern programming languages are considered in the context of procedural, object-oriented, functional and logic programming languages. Topics include data and control structuring constructs, facilities for modularity and data abstraction, polymorphism, syntax, and formal semantics.

COURSE DETAILS:

If a majority of programming languages are Turing Complete, why do people use different languages when their expressivities are essentially the same?

In this course, we will explore diffent programming language designs and implementations. We will analyze the core relationships between language design and language implementation, and how these play into the emergent behavior of "good programming practice."



Topics

  • Learn Haskell
    • Fundamental programming ideas and approaches
    • Rich types and type-directed programming
    • Type safety
  • Learn Rust
    • Borrows, copies, and moves
    • Memory management and memory safety
  • Something else?
    • Other fun languages and concepts, if time permits

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

The core objectives for this course are threefold.

  1. Students will learn new programming paradigms that they are unlikely to have previously been exposed to.
  2. Students will learn how to analyze programming paradigms and understand their pros and cons.
  3. Students will learn how to apply these lessons in their everyday development.

Grading

NOTES:

25% weekly exercise-like assignments
35% bi-weekly project-like assignments
20% Midterm 1
20% Midterm 2

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Any textbook used will be freely available online.

You should have access to a computer sufficiently powerful that it can install and run the Haskell compiler and the Rust compiler.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the semester are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.