A Hitchhiker's Guide to Linearity - Lambda Days 2023

Explore the evolution and applications of linearity in programming languages through this 47-minute conference talk from Lambda Days 2023. Delve into the world of linear logic, introduced by Girard in the 1980s, and discover how computer scientists have been working to implement this concept in practical programming. Examine various approaches inspired by linear logic, including linear types in Haskell, uniqueness types in Clean, quantitative types in Idris, and Rust's ownership system. Gain insights into the strengths and weaknesses of each approach and learn how combining these concepts can enhance safety and performance when working with resources like file handles, mutable arrays, and communication channels. Follow Daniel Marshall's ongoing research in unifying these concepts within the Granule language, and acquire a comprehensive understanding of the design space surrounding linearity in modern programming languages.