Forschungsprojekte

etylizer - Set-theoretic types for Erlang

Erlang Ecosystem Foundation (2023)

Erlang’s type language provides powerful such as parametric polymorphism, equi-recursive types, as well as singleton, union, and (a variant of) intersection types.
But its type signatures mainly serve as documentation as language features such as pattern matching and dynamic type tests complicate the design of a static type system.

Etylizer is a static type checker for Erlang that adopts set-theoretic types as its foundation. With a demo of selected case studies, we demonstrate how existing Erlang code can be statically type-checked without or with only minor modifications to the code. We further investigate how set-theoretic types can enhance the development process and improve code quality for idiomatic Erlang code.

The etylizer project is funded by the Erlang Ecosystem Foundation and developed as free open-source software: https://github.com/etylizer/

GeNIUS - Gelingensbedingungen für den Naturwissenschaftlich-Informatischen Unterricht in Schulen

BMBF MINT-Aktionsplan 2.0 (2022-2025)

In GeNIUS, we examine the conditions that contribute to or hinder the success of integral interdisciplinary science education (NIU / naturwissenschaftlich-informatischer Unterricht). The project will use a mixed-methods approach, specifically participatory action research, to involve stakeholders in a collaborative and formative manner. In the initial phase, interviews will be conducted with teachers to identify specific areas of application, needs, possibilities, and gaps in practice related to NIU.

Based on the identified areas, collaborative NIU scenarios will be developed by researchers and teachers. These scenarios will integrate core computer science concepts with natural science content. Participating teachers will implement these scenarios in their classrooms. Through several iterative cycles, the project will extract best practice examples from the teaching scenarios, which will serve as the basis for theory-based generalizations and the definition of "conditions for success."

The project also includes an accompanying teacher evaluation and analysis of the NIU scenarios, aiming to identify the necessary competencies for designing and implementing NIU. By incorporating an action research approach throughout the project, GeNIUS ensures practical relevance and facilitates the translation of findings into educational practice. The ultimate goal of GeNIUS is to empower stakeholders in STEM education to enhance the quality of their offerings and further develop them in line with new-informed education approaches.

Lightkone: Lightweight Computations on the Edge

EU-Project Horizon 2020 (2017-2019)

The EU project LightKone aims to develop a scientifically sound and industrially validated model for doing general-purpose computation on edge networks. An edge network consists of a large set of heterogeneous, loosely coupled computing nodes situated at the logical extreme of a network. Common examples are community networks and Internet of Things networks, and networks including mobile devices, personal computers, and points of presence including Mobile Edge Computing. Internet applications are increasingly running on edge networks, to reduce latency, increase scalability, resilience, and security, and permit local decision making.

SyncFree: Large-scale Computation without Synchronisation

EU-Project FP7 (2013-2016)

Large-scale on-line services including social networks and multiplayer games handle huge quantities of frequently changing shared data. Maintaining its consistency is relatively simple in a centralised cloud, but no longer possible due to increased scalability requirements. Instead, data must be replicated across several distributed data centres, requiring new principled approaches to consistency that will be explored by the SyncFree project.