Keynote -- What is the Web's model of computation?

• There is concept of "global computation" (eg crawlers) but...
• Web is not uniform (except HTTP)
• Speed of light is finite => mobility a necessity
• Single global structure not enough, view as multiple "global computers" ("intrawebs", maybe non
• HTTP, non-Java-VM) each with some guarantees
• model of computation = language independent model for APIs + model on which to base language constructs
• turn web into uniform structure or "program the complexity" (yes)?
• existing programming models don't capture locality
• observables like referential integrity and QoS not in trad. models
• Different languages may be appropriate for different "global computers" e.g. Telescript, Obliq, Java
• Semantics needed to understand computational assumptions and requirements, answer important security questions, reason about programs
• Issues: Typing (MIME is a mechanism...?), security, reliability, modularity, resource management

See www.research.digital.com/SRC/personal/Luca_Cardelli/home.html for more material.