Partial Order Programming

Abstract

We introduce a programming paradigm in which statements are constraints over partial orders. A partial order programming problem has the form minimize u subject to u1 ⊒ v1, u2 ⊒ v2, ··· where u is the goal, and u1 ⊒ v1, u2 ⊒ v2, ··· is a collection of constraints called the program. A solution of the problem is a minimal value for u determined by values for u1, v1, etc. satisfying the constraints. The domain of values here is a partial order, a domain D with ordering relation ⊒.