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A categorical manifesto†

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 March 2009

Joseph A. Goguen
Joseph A. Goguen
Affiliation:
Programming Research Group, University of Oxford, SRI International, Menlo Park CA, USA
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Abstract

This paper tries to explain why and how category theory is useful in computing science, by giving guidelines for applying seven basic categorical concepts: category, functor, natural transformation, limit, adjoint, colimit and comma category. Some examples, intuition, and references are given for each concept, but completeness is not attempted. Some additional categorical concepts and some suggestions for further research are also mentioned. The paper concludes with some philosophical discussion.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Mathematical Structures in Computer Science , Volume 1 , Issue 1 , March 1991 , pp. 49 - 67
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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