inkytonik.github.io

Anthony M. Sloane

I have been researching programming languages and software language engineering for more than twenty years. I have made particular contributions to the design and implementation of small languages that bring domain expertise to bear on software challenges, including as a co-author of the main survey paper in the area: When and how to develop domain-specific languages in ACM Computing Surveys.

I’m the lead designer and developer of the Kiama language processing library for Scala that applies domain-specific techniques to the rapid development of language implementations. I’m the lead of the Cooma project funded by Oracle Labs Australia that is investigating pure, functional language design based on fine-grained object capabilities. My work on the Skink Software Verification Tool with Franck Cassez focuses on applying Kiama, sbt-rats, SMT solvers and related libraries to build an automatic program verifier for LLVM with applications to correctness and security.

Previously, I was one of the designers and developers of the Eli compiler generation system which uses high-level domain-specific languages as specifications.

Projects

• Kiama Language Processing Library
• Cooma Secure Language
• Skink Software Verification Tool
• sbt-rats Parser Generator
• Eli compiler generation system

Talks

• Talk slides @ SpeakerDeck

Publications

• See the project pages above for their key publications.
• Other key publications:

Buckley, S. J. H. and Sloane, A. M. 2017. A formalisation of parameterised reference attribute grammars. International Conference on Software Language Engineering. 139-150. PDF

Martins, P., Fernandes, J. P., Saraiva, J., Van Wyk, E., and Sloane, A. 2016. Embedding attribute grammars and their extensions using functional zippers. Science of Computer Programming. 132, 2-28. PDF

Roberts, M. and Sloane, A. 2014. Type inference for the spine view of data. Workshop on Generic programming. 25-34. PDF

Sloane, A. M., Roberts, M., Buckley, S., and Muscat, S. 2014. Monto: A Disintegrated Development Environment. International Conference on Software Language Engineering (SLE). 211-220. PDF

Hoang, T. S., McIver, A. K., Meinicke, L., Morgan, C. C., Sloane, A., and Susatyo, E. 2014. Abstractions of non-interference security: probabilistic versus possibilistic. Formal Aspects of Computing. 26, 1, 169-194. PDF

Mernik, M., Heering, J., and Sloane, A. M. 2005. When and how to develop domain-specific languages. ACM Computing Surveys. 37, 4, 316-344. PDF

• Publication list on Google Scholar
• Publication list on Macquarie University PURE system
• Slides of research talks

Recent Teaching

• COMP332 Programming Languages: 2019
• COMP430 Software Engineering Practices: 2019
• COMP782/7010 Advanced Topics in Theory and Practice of Software: 2018, 2020

Recent External Service

• Editorial board member of Software-Practice & Experience Journal
• Member of Steering Committee of International Conference on Software Language Engineering (SLE), PC member SLE 2018, Co-PC Chair SLE 2011,
• Member of IFIP TC-2 Working Group 2.11 on Program Generation
• Program Committee member for IFL 2019, GPCE 2018
• Reviewer for ECOOP 2019, Computer Languages, Systems and Structures, Journal of Functional Programming

Awards

• Excellence in Education Award, Macquarie University, 2007
• Outstanding Teacher Award, Macquarie University, 2004

Visiting Positions

• Visiting Professor, University of Minnesota (20 Jul 2015-19 Jan 2016)
• Visiting Professor, Eindhoven University of Technology (1 Jan 2012-30 Jun 2012)
• Visiting Professor, Delft University of Technology (1 Feb 2008-31 Dec 2008)
• Visiting Research Fellow, The University of New South Wales (1 Feb 2005-31 Jul 2005)
• Visiting Professor, Yale University (1 Jan 2001-30 Jun 2001)

Biography

• Honorary Associate Professor in the Department of Computing in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Macquarie University. (Associate Professor until Nov 2020.)
• Received a B.Sc.(Hons)(1984) in Computer Science from the Australian National University and a M.S.(1991) and Ph.D.(1993) in Computer Science from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
• Head of the Department of Computing at Macquarie University from 2005-2007 and Director of Teaching from 2001-2004 and 2016-2018.
• Prior to joining Macquarie University in February 1998, worked as a lecturer in the Department of Computer Science at James Cook University.
• Member of the ACM since 1984.