Mailing List Archive

Fwd: PhD Python & Smalltalk grant possibility (Lille/INRIA)
FYI

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Context: Dynamically-typed languages cannot take advantage of static
type information. In this context we would like to study
the benefit of the introduction of static types *annotations* on
library design and general robustness.
The benefits can be at the level of the robustness (bug
identification), but also tools (IDE) and support for assembly
generation/c
in case of JIT.

The PhD grant is financed in the context of the Safe Python project
therefore the Ph.D. will have to work in contact
do we with the project partners and help in the context of some deliverables.

The following tasks have to be done:

- RPython is not formally defined. One of the first task will
be to define the formal semantic of RPython.
One approach is to write a RPython interpreter based on an
operational semantics and to compare the output
with the RPython interpreter. We will certainly use PLT redex
which is a domain-specific language to specify
and debug operational semantics.

- We may use the abstract syntax tree of PyLint and use the
Frama-C infrastructure. We will also consider to
build a Python parser based on petitParser.

- Define of some default metrics may also be necessary for the
SafePython project. Their definition should
be trivial on ASTs.

- Analysis of the benefits of static typing for RPython. One
idea is to study the existing python libraries
and analyze the "distance" to the RPython subset.

- Exploring type checking in presence of inconsistent type annotations.

- Since we are developing Pharo and that static type
annotation are important to
support C or assembly generation, we would like to apply the
same technique to Pharo:
- define a syntax to support type annotation (reuse
the one developed by Pleaid team member)
- perform some analysis of existing library.


References

[1] D. Ancona, M. Ancona, A Cuni, and N. Matsakis. RPython: a Step Towards
Reconciling Dynamically and Statically Typed OO Languages. In OOPSLA 2007
Proceedings and Companion, DLS'07: Proceedings of the 2007 Symposium on
Dynamic Languages, pages 53-64. ACM, 2007.

[2] A Visual Environment for Developing Context-Sensitive Term Rewriting Systems
Jacob Matthews, Robert Bruce Findler, Matthew Flatt, and Matthias Felleisen

[3] Felleisen,M.,Hieb,R.:The revised report on the syntactic theories
of sequential control and state. (1992) 235–271


Skills and Profile

You must hold a Master's in computer science, control
engineering, mathematics, scientific computation or an equivalent
diploma.
Nationality is not taken into consideration.
Knowledge in programming language design.
Object-oriented programming with knowledge of Smalltalk and
Python are a plus.

About Lille and INRIA:

Lille is located in the north of france at the border to Belgium
one hour from Paris, 1h20 from London, 35 min from Brussels, by train.
French food, combined with belgian beer.
RMoD: http://rmod.lille.inria.fr
INRIA Lille: http://www.inria.fr/lille/
INRIA in General: http://www.inria.fr
Lille: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lille
http://wikitravel.org/en/LilleBenefits/Users/ducasse/Workspace/FirstCircle/Administration/Ad-INRIA/Projects/2012-SafePython/PhDtopics.txt

Duration : 36 months – starting date of the contract : October 2012, 15th
Salary: 1957,54 EUR the first two years and 2058,84 EUR the third year
Monthly salary after taxes: around 1597,11 EUR the 1st two years and
1679,76 EUR the 3rd year (social security included).
Possibility of French courses
Help for housing
Scientific Resident card and help for husband/wife visa

Additional Information

Application deadline: 15 September 2012
Contact for position: stephane.ducasse@inria.fr
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