%0 Journal Article %1 Goguen1977Initial %A Goguen, J. A. %A Thatcher, J. W. %A Wagner, E. G. %A Wright, J. B. %C New York, NY, USA %D 1977 %I ACM %J J. ACM %K 68q55-semantics %N 1 %P 68--95 %R 10.1145/321992.321997 %T Initial Algebra Semantics and Continuous Algebras %U http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/321992.321997 %V 24 %X Many apparently divergent approaches to specifying formal semantics of programming languages are applications of initial algebra semantics. In this paper an overview of initial algebra semantics is provided. The major technical feature is an initial continuous algebra which permits unified algebraic treatment of iterative and recursive semantic features in the same framework as more basic operations.

@article{Goguen1977Initial, abstract = {{Many apparently divergent approaches to specifying formal semantics of programming languages are applications of initial algebra semantics. In this paper an overview of initial algebra semantics is provided. The major technical feature is an initial continuous algebra which permits unified algebraic treatment of iterative and recursive semantic features in the same framework as more basic operations.}}, added-at = {2019-03-01T00:11:50.000+0100}, address = {New York, NY, USA}, author = {Goguen, J. A. and Thatcher, J. W. and Wagner, E. G. and Wright, J. B.}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/29627487ff16d32ca4b4440dec7369415/gdmcbain}, citeulike-article-id = {72197}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=321997}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/321992.321997}, comment = {(private-note)Ben Lippmeier on fp-syd 20170727: Peter Goodall <pjgoodall@gmail.com> wrote: https://www.quora.com/What-is-an-algebra/answer/Tikhon-Jelvis There is also a formal treatment in the first part of: Initial Algebra Semantics and Continuous Algebras J. A. GOGUEN et al, 1977. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.504.8936\&rep=rep1\&type=pdf This paper is dense, but I found it readable when working through it making my own notes. It'd not a ” drive-by” read. Ben.}, doi = {10.1145/321992.321997}, interhash = {b267837a0312a97d5e6e5efaa2679ce7}, intrahash = {9627487ff16d32ca4b4440dec7369415}, issn = {0004-5411}, journal = {J. ACM}, keywords = {68q55-semantics}, month = jan, number = 1, pages = {68--95}, posted-at = {2017-07-27 07:32:09}, priority = {3}, publisher = {ACM}, timestamp = {2019-03-01T00:11:50.000+0100}, title = {{Initial Algebra Semantics and Continuous Algebras}}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/321992.321997}, volume = 24, year = 1977 }