The Definition of Standard ML - Revised

Rating:
Summary: BECOME the language!
Review: To explain it in the words of the authors: "The keystone of the method [used to define Standard ML in this book], then, is a certain kind of assertion that takes the form B |- P => M and may be pronounced: 'Against the background B, the phrase P evaluates to the meaning M.' The formal purpose of this Definition is no more, and no less, than to decree exactly which assertions of this form are true."

Standard ML is a very powerful language because of the abilities it grants and the restrictions it enforces. While reading this book will not teach you SML, it will help reinforce its subtle elegance. If you have developed an infatuation with this language, you will not be able to resist the only book that truly contains it.

While not necessary to enjoy this volume, a prerequisite to have any understanding of its contents is some sort of background in type theory and mathematical logic that a course like this one taught by Harper... can only begin to provide.

And remember, ML loves you!