andrew blinn

me@andrewblinn.com

I use programming language theory to explore / explain / engineer compositional UI, trying to make engagement with algebraic abstractions more fluid, tangible, and fun

Can we make GUIs that compose like languages? Create languages made of GUIs?
Can malleable semantic interfaces help make code a thing you can dip you feet in?

Language servers can provide semantic contextualization and guidance to inform
helpful editing affordances for both people and language models
: LLMs need IDEs

Math needs juice. Working on tactile affordances to support the development of
mechanical sympathy in the manipulation of materials with mechanized semantics

Programming code with embedded interactive GUIs PL 🟰 UI
A conversation between programmer, language server, and language model IDEs ✖️ LLMs
A abstract algebraic tree structure with emojis representing variables Math ➕ Juice
Oct 2024
In LA for SPLASH 2024, including HATRA, LIVE, Onward!, and the Ink & Switch Unconf;
spoke about Typed Holes for LLMs: Recorded Talk, Slides
Sep 2024
In Vancouver enroute to Gradient with Marcel, Elliot, and Ivan
(and surprise guests Devine and PVH)
Aug 2024
Our paper Statically Contextualizing Large Language Models with Typed Holes
(Andrew Blinn, Xi Liang, June Hyung Kim, Cyrus Omar) accepted at OOPSLA 2024
May 2024
On the program committees for LIVE, HARTA, and Onward! at SPLASH 2024
Jan 2024
Distinguished paper award Total Type Error Localization and Recovery with Holes (POPL2024)
(Eric Zhao, Raef Maroof, Anand Dukkipati, Andrew Blinn, Zoe Pan, Cyrus Omar)
Jan 2024
Our paper Toward a Live, Rich, Composable, and Collaborative Planetary Compute Engine accepted at PROPL @ POPL24 (Alexander Bandukwala, Andrew Blinn, Cyrus Omar)
Oct 2023
Our paper Gradual Structure Editing with Obligations accepted at VL/HCC23
(David Moon, Andrew Blinn, Cyrus Omar)
Oct 2023
Spoke about type-directed prompt construction for LLM code completion
at the 2023 Midwest PL Summit: Slides
Sep 2023
Joined the Train Jam on the Empire Builder line from Seattle to St. Louis
for the final Strange Loop and the first Local First Unconf
May 2023
Mastered (Computer) Science at the University of Michigan. Presented work on formalizing programming assistants, passed preliminary exam, and advanced to PhD candidacy
Apr 2023
In Toronto for Causal Islands and then Galiano via Vancouver to work on nool
at Gradient Retreat (feat. Omar, Max, and Ian)
Sep 2022
Our paper Tylr - A Tiny Tile-based Structure Editor accepted to TyDe workshop
(David Moon, Andrew Blinn, Cyrus Omar)
Sep 2022
Spoke about programming assistant architecture at VLHCC22 in Rome
May 2022
An Integrative Human-Centered Architecture for Interactive Programming Assistants accepted at VLHCC22 (Andrew Blinn, David Moon, Eric Griffis, Cyrus Omar)
Oct 2021
Student volunteering at SPLASH/OOPSLA in Chicago; attended HATRA and LIVE workshops
Jun 2021
Our paper Filling typed holes with live GUIs accepted at PLDI21
(Cyrus Omar, David Moon, Andrew Blinn, Ian Voysey, Nick Collins, Ravi Chugh)
Feb 2021
In Vancouver enroute to work on furl at Gradient Retreat
(feat. Omar, Toph, Horace, and Robert)
July 2019
Attended Racket's How to Design Languages Summer School and presented
Fructure at RacketCon 2019: Talk, Slides
May 2019
Started work at TodaQ Toronto
May 2019
Graduated the University of Toronto with an HBSc in Computer Science & Mathematics
April 2019
Attended Clojure North in Toronto
Oct 2018
St. Louis triple header: Attending ICFP2018, Strange Loop 2018, RacketCon 2018
July 2018
At the Oregon Programming Languages Summer School in Eugene

Here's some other things i've worked on:

program synthesis in hazel december 2020

figuring out new ways for you to fight with your editor, hybridizing hazel with the smyth program synthesizer

a sequence of transformations in the hazelnut editor calculus september 2020

joined cyrus omar's fp lab as a phd student at the u of m, helping ruin programming forever

august 2020

ended two years owning ownership at todaq with a project on making interfaces for reifying fake digital stuff