Computational effects and operations: an overview

Abstract

We overview a programme to provide a unified semantics for computational effects based upon the notion of a countable enriched Lawvere theory. We define the notion of countable enriched Lawvere theory, show how the various leading examples of computational effects, except for continuations, give rise to them, and we compare the definition with that of a strong monad. We outline how one may use the notion to model three natural ways in which to combine computational effects: by their sum, by their commutative combination, and by distributivity. We also outline a unified account of operational semantics. We present results we have already shown, some partial results, and our plans for further development of the programme.