HaPoP 2018

Fourth Symposium on the History and Philosophy of Programming

23 March 2018, Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, United Kingdom

Colocated with BSHM Meeting on History of Computing, 22 March 2018

Post-proceedings

More information

Event partners

Past events

In a society where computers have become ubiquitous, it is necessary to develop a deeper understanding of the nature of computer programs, not just from the technical viewpoint, but from a broader historical and philosophical perspective. A historical awareness of the evolution of programming not only helps to clarify the complex structure of computing, but it also provides an insight in what programming was, is and could be in the future. Philosophy, on the other hand, helps to tackle fundamental questions about the nature of programs, programming languages and programming as a discipline.

HaPoP 2018 is the fourth edition of the Symposium on the History and Philosophy of Programming, organised by HaPoC, Commission on the History and Philosophy of Computing. As in the previous editions, we are convinced that an interdisciplinary approach is necessary for understanding programming with its multifaceted nature. As such, we welcome participation by researchers and practitioners coming from a diversity of backgrounds, including historians, philosophers, computer scientists and professional software developers.

In addition to submissions in a wide range of areas traditional for HaPoP (outlined below), we especially welcome submissions that explore the nature of scientific progress with respect to computer programming as a discipline. We are interested in investigations concerning the methodology of computer programming, whether it follows a form of scientific method that allows it to increase its problem solving ability, whether its development more is akin to science, engineering or rather art, and what examples from the history of programming can be provided to support either argument.

Special journal issue: Computing and programming in context

We now welcome submissions to a special issue of the Philosophy and Technology journal that follows the HaPoP4 symposium and HaPoC4 conference. Please see Computing and programming in context – The interplay between logic, science, technology and society for more information and consider submitting a paper by 1 October 2018. We welcome papers based on contributions to HaPoP4 and HaPoC4, as well as contributions not appearing in the aforementioned conferences.

Registration and co-located events

The symposium is on Friday (March 23), and is co-located with a meeting History of Computing beyond the Computer on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday, (March 21-22), organised by the British Society for the History of Mathematics, which hosts a full day of invited talks closely related to HaPoP. We are also organising a dinner at Nuffield College on Thursday, (March 22), before the HaPoP symposium and we are considering an informal meeting on Saturday, (March 24), to provide space for informal discussion and collaboration.

To register and express interest in participation, please see the following links:

  • HaPoP 2018 symposium and dinner registration (March 22 and March 23). To attend HaPoP symposium and dinner, click here. Symposium ticket is available for £40 and symposium ticket with college dinner is available for £100. Partners are welcome at the college dinner, but need to book a dinner ticket through the above link.
  • History of Computing beyond the Computer (March 21 and March 22). For more information about the co-located event organised by the British Society for the History of Mathematics, as well as registration, see the BSHM registration page.
  • Informal post-symposium meeting (March 24). To provide a space for informal discussion following the symposium, we booked a room in Turl Street Kitchen on Saturday (March 24) after the conference. The room is booked from 10:30am to 2:30pm. No registration is required, you are welcome to stop by anytime during the morning and early afternoon and join us for breakfast, coffee or lunch.

Symposium programme

The symposium will be taking place in the L4 room of the Oxford Mathematical institute. For more information about the institute, how to get there and other information, please see the institute's about web page.

9:00 - 9:10: Welcome and introduction

9:10 - 10:25: People and organisations

10:20 - 10:50: Coffee break

10:50 - 12:35: Languages and paradigms

12:35 - 13:45: Lunch break

13:45 - 15:30: Programs and programming

15:30 - 16:00: Coffee break

16:00 - 17:10: Systems and concepts

Support and contact

The HAPOC Commission is kindly offering two grants for authors of papers presented at HaPoP 2018. If you are the author of an accepted submission and require travel support, please see HAPOC grants for authors.

HaPoP4 co-chairs are Tomas Petricek and Ursula Martin and you can find a list of programme committee members on a separate page. If you have any questions regarding suitability of a topic or format of the extended abstract, please contact Tomas at [email protected]. For quick questions, you can also use @tomaspetricek on Twitter.