Inversion by Partial Evaluation: A Reversible Interpreter Experiment

TL;DR

This paper explores the use of reversible interpreters and partial evaluation to achieve program inversion, demonstrating that both projections are essential for effective program transformation.

Contribution

It introduces a reversible interpreter in a flowchart language and shows how partial evaluation can produce textually equivalent inverted programs.

Findings

First Futamura and inversion projections can produce textually equivalent programs

Reversible interpreters facilitate practical program inversion

Both projections are necessary in program transformation tools

Abstract

A computational limit of combining partial evaluation and program inversion is investigated. Using a reversible Turing machine interpreter, we show that the first Futamura and inversion projections can produce not only functionally but also textually equivalent programs. The construction of the interpreter in a reversible flowchart language is shown in full. Insights are provided on the practical interplay between reversible interpreters, program inverters, and partial evaluators. We conclude that both projections must be included in the program transformation toolbox.