How Formal Semantics Will Bring More Developers to Web3

Creating Universal Programming Languages for Blockchains

Formal semantics, a subfield of formal methods, refers to the meaning behind computer code or the behavior of a program. Formal semantics define how instructions should be executed by an application. While syntax relates to whether code is written correctly, formal semantics ensures code functions correctly. Without a clear understanding of the formal semantics of a programming language, developers run the risk of creating software that malfunctions, leading to bugs, inefficiencies, and potential failures. 

*Note: we will refer to “formal semantics” as “semantics” for simplicity.

In this post, we explore the importance of semantics in programming, particularly in modern blockchain development. This deep dive into semantics is crucial for our work at Pi Squared, as it forms the foundation of our approach to Verifiable Computing 2.0. You can read more about the Pi Squared vision here.

In the fast-paced world of software development, proper syntax is often emphasized to ensure code runs correctly. A syntactic mistake such as a misplaced semicolon, errant bracket, or typo in a variable can cause a compilation error or worse, for an application to pass the compilation process yet behave unexpectedly. But semantics of a programming language are another crucial aspect that many programmers do not consider. 

Semantics-Based Programming in Web3

Semantics play a pivotal role in providing a mathematical framework to define the behavior of programming languages. This formal approach is invaluable in defining the reasoning of computer applications, verifying their correctness, and ensuring they meet preset specifications. By understanding a programming language’s semantics, developers can better predict how their application will behave in different scenarios, making semantics a cornerstone of reliable software development. 

Smart contract development is a high-risk programming environment where bugs in your code can lead to high-profile hacks, potentially costing millions of dollars. This heightened risk has led to the adaptation of formal methods to help make smart contract development safer. By applying rigorous mathematical techniques to specify, design, and verify software systems, formal methods can significantly reduce the likelihood of critical errors in smart contracts.

Semantics play a critical role in simplifying blockchain development. This is because each ecosystem has its own unique syntax and semantics. To build on a blockchain framework, a developer needs to choose and commit to building within a single blockchain ecosystem despite uncertainties surrounding its future benefits and risks. Blockchains are evolving rapidly, so they present a significant challenge for developers to keep up-to-date with the chosen blockchain’s requirements. 

Choosing a blockchain ecosystem is far from trivial for developers. It involves investing limited time and resources to develop expertise into a platform that may not guarantee long-term success. Developers are essentially betting on the future, with significant implications for the sustainability and security of their applications. This is where semantics-based programming offers a potential solution.

Semantics Bring Universality to Web3 Development

Semantics-Based Program Execution offers a groundbreaking approach to software development. Traditionally, applications rely on compilers or interpreters tailored to specific programming languages. However, in semantics-based execution, compilers or interpreters are no longer needed. The interpreter, which turns programming code into machine code, is generated directly from the formal semantics of a language. This allows for a more precise and universally applicable execution model. As a result, developers can execute applications written in any language, provided its semantics are defined. Put simply, this enables developers to use the programming language of their choice, so their application can run on any blockchain. 

This universality in programming is made possible by using the K framework. The K framework enables any app written in any programming language to run on any blockchain. This is done by using the defined semantics within the K framework, of that chosen programming language. This universality provides developers with unprecedented flexibility and correctness, ensuring that their applications behave as intended across different blockchains and environments.

Semantics-Based Program Execution offers developers the benefits of correctness, testability, generality and most importantly, universality. 

• Correctness: Since the interpreter is generated from formal semantics, it’s inherently more accurate and less error-prone. Developers can be more confident that their programs will behave as expected, reducing bugs and unexpected behaviors. 
• Testability: Because semantics are executable, they can be tested against existing test suites and verified for correctness based on the expected behavior of programs in the language. 
• Generality: Developers can work across different programming languages and blockchain ecosystems without being tied to a single language or platform.
• Universality: Provided the semantics of a language are available, the semantics based approach provides a flexible and universally applicable solution making it a versatile tool for developers.

The Future for Semantics in Web3 Development

As blockchain technology continues to evolve, the ability to quickly support new blockchains and create new language semantics will become increasingly critical to bringing millions of new developers to Web3. Developing semantics for complicated languages like C or Rust will take time, but it’s achievable and the long-term benefits will be significant.

Semantics-based programming will revolutionize blockchain development, providing developers with the tools to build more flexible, secure, and maintainable applications. As Web3 continues to grow, the importance of semantics in ensuring the integrity and functionality of code can’t be overstated. By embracing semantics, developers new to Web3 can avoid the complexities of blockchain ecosystems. Building with greater confidence and precision, and ultimately delivering better experiences for users.

If you’re interested in learning more about how Pi Squared can bring more developers to your ecosystem, reach out any time to our team.