Course detail

Functional and Logic Programming

FIT-FLPAcad. year: 2025/2026

Practical applications and broader introduction into lambda calculus and predicate logic within the context of functional and logic programming languages. Within functional programming, abstract data types are discussed, as well as the use of recursion and induction, manipulation of lists and infinite data structures in language Haskell. Experience in logic programming is gained in programming languages Prolog (cut operator, state space search, database modification), CLP, and Goedel. Moreover, principles of their implementation are mentioned too.

Why is the course taught

Purely declarative programming languages are such a phenomenon, which enables to get a new viewpoint on many problems and, thus, one can obtain new, original solutions.

Exam prerequisites

At the end of a term, a student should have at least 20 points out of 40 possible, plus

  • at least 4 points from project on functional programming (12 possible),
  • and at least 3 points from project on logical programming (8 possible).

Plagiarism and not allowed cooperation will cause that involved students are not classified and disciplinary action can be initiated.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

5

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Entry knowledge

Processing (analysis, evaluation/interpretation/compilation) of programming languages, predicate logic.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

  • Mid-term exam, for which there is only one schedule and, thus, there is no possibility to have another trial.
  • Two projects should be solved and delivered in a given date during a term.

  • Mid-term exam - written form, questions and exercises to be answered and solved, no possibility to have a second/alternative trial - 20 points.
  • Projects realization - 2 projects, implementation of a simple program according to the given specification - one in a functional programming language the other in a logic programming language - 20 points all projects together.
  • Final exam - written form, questions and exercises to be answered and solved, 2 another corrections trials possible (60 points - the minimal number of points which can be obtained from the final exam is 25, otherwise, no points will be assigned to a student).

Aims

Obtaining a basic knowledge and practical experience in functional and logic programming. Introduction into formal concepts used as a theoretical basis for both paradigms.

Students will get basic knowledge and practical experience in functional and logic programming (two important representatives of declarative programming). Moreover, they will get basic information about theoretical basis of both paradigms and implementation techniques.
Use and understanding of recursion for expression of algorithms.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Lipovača, M.: Learn You a Haskell for Great Good!, No Starch Press, 2011, ISBN-13: 978-1-59327-283-8 (EN)

Recommended reading

Bieliková, M., Návrat, P.: Funkcionálne a logické programovanie, Vydavateĺstvo STU, Vazovova 5, Bratislava, 2000.
Hill, P., Lloyd, J.: The Gödel Programming Language, MIT Press, 1994, ISBN 0-262-08229-2
Jones, S.P.: Haskell 98 Language and Libraries, Cambridge University Press, 2003, p. 272, ISBN 0521826144
Nilsson, U., Maluszynski, J.: Logic, Programming and Prolog (2ed), John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 1995
Podklady k přednáškám (slajdy, ukázky, ...)
Thompson, S.: Haskell, The Craft of Functional Programming, ADDISON-WESLEY, 1999, ISBN 0-201-34275-8

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme MITAI Master's

    specialization NSEC , 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    specialization NISY up to 2020/21 , 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    specialization NNET , 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    specialization NMAL , 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    specialization NCPS , 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    specialization NHPC , 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    specialization NVER , 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    specialization NIDE , 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    specialization NISY , 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    specialization NEMB , 0 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    specialization NSPE , 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    specialization NEMB , 0 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    specialization NBIO , 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    specialization NSEN , 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    specialization NVIZ , 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    specialization NGRI , 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    specialization NADE , 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    specialization NISD , 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    specialization NMAT , 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

  1. Introduction to functional programming
  2. Lambda calculus
  3. Programming language Haskell, introduction, lists
  4. User-defined data types, type classes, and arrays in Haskell
  5. Input/Output in Haskell - type classes IO and Monad
  6. Proofs in functional programming
  7. Denotational semantics, implementation of functional languages
  8. Introduction to logic programming, Prolog
  9. Lists, cut operator, and sorting in Prolog
  10. Data structures, text strings, operators - extensions of SWI Prolog
  11. Searching state space, clause management, and parsing in Prolog
  12. Goedel - logic programming language not using Horn clauses
  13. Implementation of logic languages, CLP, conclusion

Exercise in computer lab

12 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

  1. Haskell - basic language features, recursion, lists, partial application, higher-order functions (map, filter, foldX), infinite lists, partial evaluation
  2. Haskell - data types, monads, I/O
  3. Haskell - demonstration - construction of a simple interpreter using library Parsec
  4. Prolog - program structure, recursion, lists
  5. Prolog - dynamic predicates, advanced example on dynamic predicates
  6. Prolog - more advanced examples, tests on variable instantiation, state space search

Project

14 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

  1. A simple program in Haskell programming language (Hugs, GHC, GHCi).
  2. A simple program in Prolog/Gödel/CLP(R) (SWIPL, Gödel, CiaoProlog).