Class 07: Io (3)

Held: Monday, 7 February 2011

Summary: We conclude our exploration of Io by examining ways in which we can modify Io's behavior and with some simple parallel tasks.

Related Pages:

• EBoard.
• Lab: Io (3).
• Reading: Tate 3.4-3.5.

Notes:

• One of you asked that I try to do the homework assignment. I was on a retreat this past weekend, but I did do the first two problems. They took me about thirty minutes. I also appreciate the early question on the assignment (as should the rest of you).
• Books are in the bookstore!
• On readings: Please try to ask questions that one of your colleagues might be able to answer. (E.g., I don't understand this code or What's another example of concept?)
• On readings: Please tag your questions.
• For Tuesday evening, please read Tate 4.1 and 4.2.

Overview:

• Advanced Io concepts: Modding the language; Multitasking.
• Lab.

Primary Concepts from Tate 3.4

• Io lets you mangle the language for your own purposes.
  • By adding new operators.
  • By changing the behavior of existing operators.
  • By changing the way messages are forwarded.
• Io provides a variety of multitasking options.
  • Explicitly managed coroutines
  • Actors in their own threads
  • Actors as futures

Lab

• Do The lab.
• Be prepared to reflect.