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Outline

Flowing

[
  Funcon   left-to-right   Alias l-to-r
  Funcon   right-to-left   Alias r-to-l
  Funcon   sequential      Alias seq
  Funcon   effect
  Funcon   choice
  Funcon   if-true-else    Alias if-else
  Funcon   while-true      Alias while
  Funcon   do-while-true   Alias do-while
  Funcon   interleave
  Datatype yielding
  Funcon   signal
  Funcon   yielded
  Funcon   yield
  Funcon   yield-on-value
  Funcon   yield-on-abrupt
  Funcon   atomic
]
Meta-variables
  T <: values
  T* <: values*

Sequencing

Funcon
  left-to-right(_:(=>(T)*)*) : =>(T)*
Alias
  l-to-r = left-to-right

left-to-right(...) computes its arguments sequentially, from left to right, and gives the resulting sequence of values, provided all terminate normally. For example, integer-add(X, Y) may interleave the computations of X and Y, whereas integer-add left-to-right(X, Y) always computes X before Y.

When each argument of left-to-right(...) computes a single value, the type of the result is the same as that of the argument sequence. For instance, when X:T and Y:T′, the result of left-to-right(X, Y) is of type (T, T′). The only effect of wrapping an argument sequence in left-to-right(...) is to ensure that when the arguments are to be evaluated, it is done in the specified order.

Rule
                              Y ---> Y′
  ------------------------------------------------------------
  left-to-right(V*:(T)*, Y, Z*) ---> left-to-right(V*, Y′, Z*)
Rule
  left-to-right(V*:(T)*) ~> V*
Funcon
  right-to-left(_:(=>(T)*)*) : =>(T)*
Alias
  r-to-l = right-to-left

right-to-left(...) computes its arguments sequentially, from right to left, and gives the resulting sequence of values, provided all terminate normally.

Note that right-to-left(X*) and reverse left-to-right reverse(X*) are not equivalent: reverse(X*) interleaves the evaluation of X*.

Rule
                              Y ---> Y′
  ------------------------------------------------------------
  right-to-left(X*, Y, V*:(T)*) ---> right-to-left(X*, Y′, V*)
Rule
  right-to-left(V*:(T)*) ~> V*
Funcon
  sequential(_:(=>null-type)*, _:=>T) : =>T
Alias
  seq = sequential

sequential(X, ...) computes its arguments in the given order. On normal termination, it returns the value of the last argument; the other arguments all compute null-value.

Binary sequential(X, Y) is associative, with unit null-value.

Rule
                  X ---> X′
  -----------------------------------------
  sequential(X, Y+) ---> sequential(X′, Y+)
Rule
  sequential(null-value, Y+) ~> sequential(Y+)
Rule
  sequential(Y) ~> Y
Funcon
  effect(V*:T*) : =>null-type
    ~> null-value

effect(...) interleaves the computations of its arguments, then discards all the computed values.

Choosing

Funcon
  choice(_:(=>T)+) : =>T

choice(Y, ...) selects one of its arguments, then computes it. It is associative and commutative.

Rule
  choice(X*, Y, Z*) ~> Y
Funcon
  if-true-else(_:booleans, _:=>T, _:=>T) : =>T
Alias
  if-else = if-true-else

if-true-else(B, X, Y) evaluates B to a Boolean value, then reduces to X or Y, depending on the value of B.

Rule
  if-true-else(true, X, Y) ~> X
Rule
  if-true-else(false, X, Y) ~> Y

Iterating

Funcon
  while-true(B:=>booleans, X:=>null-type) : =>null-type
    ~> if-true-else(B, sequential(X, while-true(B, X)), null-value)
Alias
  while = while-true

while-true(B, X) evaluates B to a Boolean value. Depending on the value of B, it either executes X and iterates, or terminates normally.

The effect of abruptly breaking the iteration is obtained by the combination handle-break(while-true(B, X)), and that of abruptly continuing the iteration by while-true(B, handle-continue(X)).

Funcon
  do-while-true(X:=>null-type, B:=>booleans) : =>null-type
    ~> sequential(X, if-true-else(B, do-while-true(X, B), null-value))
Alias
  do-while = do-while-true

do-while-true(X, B) is equivalent to sequential(X, while-true(B, X)).

Interleaving

Funcon
  interleave(_:T*) : =>T*

interleave(...) computes its arguments in any order, possibly interleaved, and returns the resulting sequence of values, provided all terminate normally. Fairness of interleaving is not required, so pure left-to-right computation is allowed.

atomic(X) prevents interleaving in X, except after transitions that emit a yielded(signal).

Rule
  interleave(V*:T*) ~> V*
Datatype
  yielding ::= signal
Entity
  _ --yielded(_:yielding?)-> _

yielded(signal) in a label on a transition allows interleaving at that point in the enclosing atomic computation. yielded( ) indicates interleaving at that point in an atomic computation is not allowed.

Funcon
  yield : =>null-type
   ~> yield-on-value(null-value)
Funcon
  yield-on-value(_:T) : =>T

yield-on-value(X) allows interleaving in an enclosing atomic computation on normal termination of X.

Funcon
  yield-on-abrupt(_:=>T) : =>T

yield-on-abrupt(X) ensures that abrupt termination of X is propagated through an enclosing atomic computation.

Rule
                   X --abrupt(V:T),yielded(_?)-> X′
  --------------------------------------------------------------------
  yield-on-abrupt(X) --abrupt(V),yielded(signal)-> yield-on-abrupt(X′)
Rule
                   X --abrupt( )-> X′
  ----------------------------------------------------
  yield-on-abrupt(X) --abrupt( )-> yield-on-abrupt(X′)
Rule
  yield-on-abrupt(V:T) ~> V
Funcon
  atomic(_:=>T) : =>T

atomic(X) computes X, but controls its potential interleaving with other computations: interleaving is only allowed following a transition of X that emits yielded(signal).

Rule
                   X --yielded( )->1 X′
          atomic(X′) --yielded( )->2 X′′
  -----------------------------------------------
  atomic(X) --yielded( )->1 ; --yielded( )->2 X′′
Rule
          X --yielded( )-> V
                V : T
  ---------------------------
  atomic(X) --yielded( )-> V
Rule
  atomic(V:T) ~> V
Rule
          X --yielded(signal)-> X′
  -----------------------------------
  atomic(X) --yielded( )-> atomic(X′)