Categorical Message Passing Language (CaMPL): Syntax and Semantics

Abstract

We introduce a novel functional-style concurrent programming language called Categorical Message Passing Language (CaMPL) which is designed using the mathematics of linear actegories. This mathematical underpinning gives CaMPL programs useful properties such as deadlock freedom, and additionally, livelock freedom for programs without general recursive processes. We explore CaMPL's type system through a series of code examples. The current proto-alpha version of the compiler and the abstract machine is implemented in Haskell. A reader is encouraged to experiment with writing CaMPL programs either using the online compiler https://campl-app.vercel.app/ or by installing CaMPL from https://campl-ucalgary.github.io -- our website has detailed instructions on how to run CaMPL code.