Title: Combinatory logic from scratch Cause it's sooooo sexy, let's speak about Combinatory Logic! - Rule 1: You don't talk about Combinatory Logic - Rule 2: You don't talk about Combinatory Logic - Rule 3: Combinatory Logic is based on Lambda Calculus (see Wikipedia for both) - Rule 4: A combinator is a Lambda expression taking One and only One combinator as parameter, and returning a Combinator. As i'm speaking to developers, I'LL use the `C#` Lambda syntax which is: `(parameter) => statement` Let's now try our first Combinator, named the Identity Combinator `I = (a) => a`; I named it `I`, it takes one parameter, localy named `a` and return the parameter as is. Important point: How to build combinator taking more than one parameter ? In *C#* you should use `(a, b, c) => blah blah...` but the *Rule 4* forbid us to give more than one paraneter, so let's cheat, imagine : `K = (x) => (y) => x`; `K` is a combinator taking `x`, returning a combinator taking `y` and returning `x`. so we have `K(x) = (y) => x` and `K(x)(y) = x`! So `K` take two arguments, `x` and `y`, and returns `x`, but! `K` can take only one argument, look at the `K(x) = (y) => x` ... Let's try with three arguments: S = (x) => (y) => (z) => x(z)(y(z)) can be called with one, S(x) returns (y) => (z) => x(z)(y(z)) two, S(x)(y) returns (z) => x(z)(y(z)) or three arguments: s(x)(y)(z) returns x(z)(y(z)) In combinatory logic, they write: - `I a = a` - `K x y = x` - `S x y z = x(z)(y(z))` then they say that in fact, `I` can be build from `S` and `K`: I = SKK Ok but what does that means? Where are arguments? it's easy: `I = S(K)(K)`; `S` can take 2 parameters `S(x)(y)` returns `(z) => x(z)(y(z))`, so: `I = (z) => K(z)(K(z))` We have to execute it from left to right, remember, `K(a)(b)` returns `a`, so (with `a == z` and `b == K(z))`: `I = (z) => z`; Do you want more? Let's try to understand B = S (K S) K x y z `B` stands for Barbara, from "Syllogism Barbara" (Wikipedia explains: - All men are animals. - All animals are mortal. -All men are mortal. So before all, write `B` as we understand it, and for readability reasons, currently executed combinator and it's arguments will be emphased: - B = __S (K(S)) K (x)__ (y) (z) We have to execute it from left to right, and we have a `S` with three parameters: `S(a)(b)(c)` returns `a(c)(b(c))`: - B = __K (S) (x)__ (K(x)) (y) (z) From left to right we have a `K` with two parameters, `S` and `x`, it will return `S`: - B = __S (K(x)) (y) (z)__ Calling `S` with three parameters `(K(x))`, `(y), and `(z)` returns `(K(x))(z)((y)(z))`: - B = **K (x) (z)** ((y)(z)) Calling `K` with two parameters `(x)`, and `(z)`, it returns `x`: - B = x((y)(z)) Which can be simplified to: - B = x(y(z)) It's time to try it ! :::csharp delegate C C(C c); static void Main(string[] args) { C K = (a) => (b) => a; C S = (a) => (b) => (c) => a(c)(b(c)); C I = S(K)(K); C B = S(K(S))(K); } It works! Enjoy!! Next time, we will try a Swap combinator, a Combinator reducing to himself and progressing step to the Y Combinator! *dramatic chord*