Java Generics: An Order-Theoretic Approach (Abridged Outline)

Abstract: The mathematical modeling of generics in Java and other similar nominally-typed object-oriented programming languages is a challenge. In this short paper we present the outline of a novel order-theoretic approach to modeling generics, in which we also elementarily use some concepts and tools from category theory. We believe a combined order-theoretic and category-theoretic approach to modeling generics holds the keys to overcoming much of the adversity found when analyzing features of generic OO type systems.