Playing with Lambda Calculus

We all learn a lot about Turing Machines and why it is an important model and its correlation to the microprocessors we have today. However, not everyone learns about another important model: Lambda Calculus. We'll learn a little bit about simple untyped lambda calculus, implement some data structures using only functions (no other Elixir data type) and hopefully have some fun.

THIS TALK IN THREE WORDS

Lambda

Calculus

Reduction

OBJECTIVES

• Beginner developers will have an idea of what lambda calculus is and how it works.
• Advanced developers will understand the optimal reduction algorithm.
• Everyone will develop some interest for interaction combinators and optimal lambda reduction (hype them a little bit, to be honest).

TARGET AUDIENCE

People who have an interest for theory of computation and functional programming in general.