Dex

Dex (named for "index") is a research language for typed, functional array processing. The goal of the project is to explore:

• Type systems for array programming
• Mathematical program transformations like differentiation and integration
• User-directed compilation to parallel hardware
• Interactive and incremental numerical programming and visualization

To learn more, check out our workshop paper or these example programs:

• Dex prelude
• Mandelbrot set
• Ray tracer
• Estimating pi
• Hamiltonian Monte Carlo
• ODE integrator
• Sierpinsky triangle
• Basis function regression
• Brownian bridge

Please note that Dex is an experimental research project at an early stage of development. Contributions welcome!

Dependencies

• Install stack
• Install LLVM 9
  • apt-get install llvm-9-dev on Ubuntu/Debian,
  • brew install llvm@9 on macOS.

Building

• Build Dex in development mode: make
• Run tests in development mode: make tests
• Install a release version of Dex: make install

The default installation directory is $HOME/.local/bin so make sure to add that directory to $PATH once you install Dex. If you'd like to install it somewhere else make sure to have the PREFIX environment variable set when you run make install. For example PREFIX=$HOME make install would install dex in $HOME/bin.

While working in development mode, it is convenient to set up a dex alias (e.g. in .bashrc): alias dex="stack exec dex --".

Running

• Traditional REPL: dex repl
• Execute script: dex script examples/pi.dx
• Live-updated notebook display dex web examples/pi.dx (html) or dex watch examples/pi.dx (terminal).

License

BSD-3

This is an early-stage research project, not an official Google product.