Categories and Computer Science (Cambridge Computer Science Texts) [Hardcover]

R. F. C. Walters (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521419972 | ISBN-13: 978-0521419970 | Publication Date: August 28, 1992

Category Theory has, in recent years, become increasingly important and popular in computer science, and many universities now introduce Category Theory as part of the curriculum for undergraduate computer science students. Here, the theory is developed in a straightforward way, and is enriched with many examples from computer science.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Nice, crisp introduction to category theory, motivated by examples and use in computer science. Mathematical sophistication blends nicely with fundamental concepts and examples to make the connections (and usefulness) understandable to good undergraduates." The American Mathematical Monthly

"Within the setting of distributive categories, nicely explained here, one sees data structure abstractions done properly. The example of queues is the most compelling in that all of the structure of distributive categories is used....strongly recommend[ed]. David B. Benson, Computing Reviews

"...probably the clearest introduction to category theory written to date." The Bulletin of Mathematics Books

Book Description

Category theory has, in recent years, become increasingly important and popular in computer science, and many universities now include it as part of their curriculums. This text is geared to students of mathematics as well as undergraduate computer scientists.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 180 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (August 28, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521419972
• ISBN-13: 978-0521419970
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,575,845 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a recommendation of Category Theory texts for CS/IT, September 27, 1998

By 

Михал О&#... (Dublin, Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Categories and Computer Science (Cambridge Computer Science Texts) (Paperback)

In September 1997 we needed a book on Category Theory for our first year undergraduate class in the B.A. (Mod) honors degree in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) at the University of Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland. This book was at that time the only one that satisfied our requirements. Now we have chosen (Lawvere and Schanuel 1997) in addition. It is our opinion that one ought to start with the latter, a most excellent introduction of great profundity, and, for application to computing, use the Walters text. It is hard to beat this combination for a first year undergraduate course, as far as we know at this time (Sept.98)

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Very comprehensive textbook for beginners computer sci., July 19, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Categories and Computer Science (Cambridge Computer Science Texts) (Hardcover)

The Book begins with the plain definition of a category, as does any other book. However, it points out a category as a kind of (abstract) Data Type. Distributive Categories are discussed as a milestone for developing the basic concepts in computation, as those of imperative programs and Data Types. The Book has a lot of examples (from computation) and the author took care of drawning conclusions from them before develop an abstract framework. The concepts of automata and automata with inputs are shown (the later in a functorial category). Grammars and Graphs are discussed as well. The book has a very good introduction to the concept of freeness and adjunctions. Its latest chapter treats the computational category theory in the context of Knuth-Bendix procedure. The exercises present in the book are great !! They guide the student gradualy into deeper questions without any frustation. There are very easy exercises which have the only goal of finding out ones undersating of a new definition.