A Proposal for an Interactive Shell Based on a Typed Lambda Calculus
This work addresses the problem of improving shell usability for developers by offering a typed, extensible alternative, though it appears incremental as it builds on existing lambda calculus and shell techniques.
The paper introduces Favalon, a functional programming language based on a typed lambda calculus designed to replace interactive shells, enabling seamless integration with existing libraries and commands through type inference and customizable syntax.
This paper presents Favalon, a functional programming language built on the premise of a lambda calculus for use as an interactive shell replacement. Favalon seamlessly integrates with typed versions of existing libraries and commands using type inference, flexible runtime type metadata, and the same techniques employed by shells to link commands together. Much of Favalon's syntax is customizable via user-defined functions, allowing it to be extended by anyone who is familiar with a command-line shell. Furthermore, Favalon's type inference engine can be separated from its runtime library and easily repurposed for other applications.