Partial Evaluation, Programming Methodology, and Artificial Intelligence

This article presents a dual dependency between AI and programming methodologies AI is an important source of ideas and tools for building sophisticated support facilities which make possible certain programming methodologies These advanced programming methodologies in turn can have profound effects upon the methodology of AI research Both of these dependencies are illustrated by the example of a new experimental programming methodology which is based upon partial evaluation Partial evaluation is based upon current AI ideas about reasoning, representation, and control The manner in which AI systems are designed, developed and tested can be significantly improved in the programming is supported by a sufficiently powerful partial evaluator In particular, the process of building levels of interpreters and of intertwining generate and test can be partially automated Finally, speculations about a more direct connection between AI and partial evaluation are presented.