Quark.FixedPoint (Quark v2.3.2) View Source

Fixed point combinators generalize the idea of a recursive function. This can be used to great effect, simplifying many definitions.

For example, here is the factorial function written in terms of y/1:

iex> fac = fn fac ->
...>   fn
...>     0 -> 0
...>     1 -> 1
...>     n -> n * fac.(n - 1)
...>   end
...> end
...> factorial = y(fac)
...> factorial.(9)
362880

The resulting function will always be curried

iex> import Quark.SKI, only: [s: 3]
...> one_run = y(&s/3)
...> {_, arity} = :erlang.fun_info(one_run, :arity)
...> arity
1

Link to this section Summary

Functions

Alan Turing's fix-point combinator. This is the call-by-value formulation.

y()

The famous Y-combinator. The resulting function will always be curried.

z()

A normal order fixed point.

Link to this section Functions

See Quark.FixedPoint.y/0.

See Quark.FixedPoint.y/1.

Alan Turing's fix-point combinator. This is the call-by-value formulation.

Examples

iex> fac = fn fac ->
...>   fn
...>     0 -> 0
...>     1 -> 1
...>     n -> n * fac.(n - 1)
...>   end
...> end
...> factorial = turing(fac)
...> factorial.(9)
362880

Specs

turing((... -> any())) :: (... -> any())

The famous Y-combinator. The resulting function will always be curried.

Examples

iex> fac = fn fac ->
...>   fn
...>     0 -> 0
...>     1 -> 1
...>     n -> n * fac.(n - 1)
...>   end
...> end
...> factorial = y(fac)
...> factorial.(9)
362880

Specs

y((... -> any())) :: (... -> any())

A normal order fixed point.

Examples

iex> fac = fn fac ->
...>   fn
...>     0 -> 0
...>     1 -> 1
...>     n -> n * fac.(n - 1)
...>   end
...> end
...> factorial = z(fac)
...> factorial.(9)
362880

Specs

z((... -> any()), any()) :: (... -> any())