Simon Thompson (professor)
Research computer scientist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Simon Thompson is a research computer scientist, author, and an emeritus professor of the University of Kent, specializing in logic and computation.[1] His research into functional programming covers software verification and validation, programming tool-building, and software testing for the functional programming languages Erlang,[2] Haskell,[3][4] and OCaml.[5][6][7] He is the author of books on data type theory, Miranda, Haskell, and Erlang, and runs a massive open online course about Erlang for FutureLearn.
Cardano domain-specific languages: Marlowe
Input Output Global
Simon Thompson | |
|---|---|
| Education | D.Phil., University of Oxford, 1984 |
| Known for | Functional programming research,
Cardano domain-specific languages: Marlowe |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Computer science |
| Institutions | University of Kent Input Output Global |
| Thesis | Recursion theories on the continuous functionals (1984) |
| Doctoral advisor | Robin Oliver Gandy |
Education
Thompson earned a Doctor of Philosophy (D.Phil.) from the University of Oxford in 1984 with a dissertation titled "Recursion theories on the continuous functionals".[8] Thompson's doctoral adviser was Robin Oliver Gandy.[9]
Work
As of 2025[update], he worked for Input Output Global, Input Output Hong Kong[10] on domain-specific languages for the Cardano blockchain platform. There, he developed a specialised smart contract language, Marlowe, designed for non-programmers working in the financial sector.[11][12] His most recent articles have been related to Core Erlang.
Books
His books include:
- Thompson, Simon (January 1991 – March 1999). Type Theory and Functional Programming. International Computer Science Series. Addison-Wesley; Computing Laboratory, University of Kent. ISBN 979-8482847145.
- Thompson, Simon (21 July 1995). Miranda: The Craft of Functional Programming. International Computer Science Series. Addison-Wesley. ISBN 978-0201422795.[13]
- Thompson, Simon (1996–2011). Haskell: The Craft of Functional Programming. International Computer Science Series (3rd ed.). Addison-Wesley, Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0201882957.[14]
- Cesarini, Francesco; Thompson, Simon (28 July 2009). Erlang Programming: A Concurrent Approach to Software Development. O'Reilly Media. ISBN 978-0596518189. Quotes, Francesco Cesarini, founder: Erlang Solutions Ltd.