Lowering the learning curve for declarative programming: a Python API for the IDP system

TL;DR

This paper introduces a Python API for the IDP system, making declarative programming more accessible by integrating it into a widely-used language, thereby reducing the learning curve and easing adoption.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel Python API that seamlessly integrates IDP's logical reasoning capabilities into Python, enabling easier use without learning new syntax.

Findings

API enables Python programmers to access IDP's features easily

Integration minimizes code changes when adding/removing IDP

Facilitates adoption of declarative programming in Python

Abstract

Programmers may be hesitant to use declarative systems, because of the associated learning curve. In this paper, we present an API that integrates the IDP Knowledge Base system into the Python programming language. IDP is a state-of-the-art logical system, which uses SAT, SMT, Logic Programming and Answer Set Programming technology. Python is currently one of the most widely used (teaching) languages for programming. The first goal of our API is to allow a Python programmer to use the declarative power of IDP, without needing to learn any new syntax or semantics. The second goal is allow IDP to be added to/removed from an existing code base with minimal changes.