SML programming language: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

The SML programming language is a modern descendant of the ML programming language used in the LCF theorem-proving project. It is unique among widely used languages in that it has a formal specification, given as an operational semantics in The Definition of Standard ML (Revised), by Milner, Tofte, Harper and MacQueen (ISBN 0262631814).

Implementations

Some SML implementations include:

• MLton is a full-program compiler, meaning that it compiles the entire program at once. It does not support any form of separate compilation. ([1])

• Moscow ML is a light-weight implementation, based on the CAML Light runtime engine. It implements the full SML language, including SML Modules, and much of the SML Basis Library. ([2])

• Poly/ML is a full implementation of Standard ML. ([3])

• Standard ML of New Jersey (abbreviated SML/NJ) is a full compiler, with associated libraries, tools, and documentation. ([4])

• SML2c is a batch compiler and compiles only module-level declarations (i.e. signatures, structures and functors) into C. Based on SML/NJ version 0.67 and shares front end and most of its run-time system, but does not support SML/NJ style debugging and profiling. Module-level programs that run on SML/NJ can be compiled by sml2c without any changes.

All of the implementations above are open-source and freely available. There are no commercial SML implementations.