The Pony Programming Language

The Pony Programming
Language
Andrew Turley
N Languages In N Months
October 4, 2016

About Me
Name
Andrew Turley
Contact
@casio_juarez / aturley@acm.org
Career
Currently at Sendence

What Is Pony?
“Pony is an open-source, object-oriented, actor-model, capabilities-secure, high
performance programming language.” -- ponylang.org

What Is Pony?
BSD license
Copyright (c) 2014-2015, Causality Ltd.
All rights reserved.
Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this
list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice,
this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation
and/or other materials provided with the distribution.

What Is Pony?
Classes, Interfaces, Traits
(but they may work a little differently than you expect)

What Is Pony?
Actors communicate by
passing messages to other
actors

What Is Pony?
The compiler enforces what
you can and cannot do with
an object

What Is Pony?
Uses LLVM to compile to
native code

What Is Pony?
Also:
● powerful type system (unions, intersections,
parameterized types and functions)
● fast actor-based garbage collection system

hello.pony
actor Main
new create(env: Env) =>
env.out.print(“hello world”)

more-interesting.pony
trait Shape
fun area(): F64
interface Named
fun name(): String
class Circle is Shape
let _radius: F64
new create(radius: F64) =>
_radius = radius
fun name(): String => "circle"
fun area(): F64 =>
3.14159 * _radius * _radius
class Square is Shape
let _side: F64
new create(side: F64) =>
_side = side
fun name(): String => "square"
fun area(): F64 =>
_side * _side
primitive AreaReporter
fun report(shape: (Shape & Named)): String =>
"The area of this " + shape.name() +
" is " + shape.area().string()
actor Main
let s: F64 = 15.3
var area = AreaReporter.report(Circle(s))
env.out.print(area)
area = AreaReporter.report(Square(s))
env.out.print(area)

trait Shape
fun area(): F64
interface Named
fun name(): String
let _radius: F64
_radius = radius
fun area(): F64 =>
let _side: F64
_side = side
fun area(): F64 =>
_side * _side
actor Main
let s: F64 = 15.3
env.out.print(area)
env.out.print(area)
traits: nominal
subtyping

trait Shape
fun area(): F64
interface Named
fun name(): String
let _radius: F64
_radius = radius
fun area(): F64 =>
let _side: F64
_side = side
fun area(): F64 =>
_side * _side
actor Main
let s: F64 = 15.3
env.out.print(area)
env.out.print(area)
interfaces:
structural
subtyping

trait Shape
fun area(): F64
interface Named
fun name(): String
let _radius: F64
_radius = radius
fun area(): F64 =>
let _side: F64
_side = side
fun area(): F64 =>
_side * _side
actor Main
let s: F64 = 15.3
env.out.print(area)
env.out.print(area)
primitive: object
with no data and
only one
instance

trait Shape
fun area(): F64
interface Named
fun name(): String
let _radius: F64
_radius = radius
fun area(): F64 =>
let _side: F64
_side = side
fun area(): F64 =>
_side * _side
actor Main
let s: F64 = 15.3
env.out.print(area)
env.out.print(area)
> ./ponyc src/more-interesting
> ./more-interesting
The area of this circle is 735.415
The area of this square is 234.09
>

Pony: The Really Interesting Parts

Pony uses actors and reference capabilities to allow the compiler to guarantee
that a program is data-race-free.

Pony uses actors and reference capabilities to allow the compiler to guarantee
that a program is
data-race-free.

data-race-free
(this is the part you should remember)

Off To The Data Races!
Some pseudo code (not Pony) …
global int a = 0
function inc() {
for x in range(0, 1000001) {
a = a + 1
}
}
function main() {
inc()
print(“a = “ + a)
}
1000000

Some more pseudo code (not Pony) …
global int a = 0
function inc() {
for x in range(0, 1000001) {
a = a + 1
}
}
function main() {
thread thread1 = Thread(inc)
thread1.run()
thread2.run()
thread1.join()
thread2.join()
}
● Run “inc()” simultaneously in two
places
● wait for both runs to finish
● print the value of “a”

global int a = 0
function inc() {
for x in range(0, 1000001) {
a = a + 1
}
}
function main() {
thread1.run()
thread2.run()
thread1.join()
thread2.join()
}
Expected (two threads each
incrementing a variable
1000000 times):
2000000

global int a = 0
function inc() {
for x in range(0, 1000001) {
a = a + 1
}
}
function main() {
thread1.run()
thread2.run()
thread1.join()
thread2.join()
}
Expected:
2000000
Actual Run 1:
1987735
Actual Run 2:
1935010
Actual Run 3:
1941217

global int a = 0
function inc() {
for x in range(0, 1000001) {
a = a + 1
}
}
function main() {
thread1.run()
thread2.run()
thread1.join()
thread2.join()
}
Expected:
2000000
Actual Run 1:
1987735
Actual Run 2:
1935010
Actual Run 3:
1941217
WHY?

In thread1 …
// get the value of “a”
// add 1 to that value
// write the new value back to “a”
a = a + 1
Meanwhile, in thread2...
// get the value of “a”
a = a + 1
a = 26

In thread1 …
// get the value of “a” 26
a = a + 1
a = a + 1
a = 26

In thread1 …
// add 1 to that value 26 + 1 = 27
a = a + 1
a = a + 1
a = 26

In thread1 …
// write the new value back to “a” a = 27
a = a + 1
a = a + 1
a = 27

In thread1 …
a = a + 1
a = a + 1
a = 27
We wanted a = 28

In thread1 …
a = a + 1
a = a + 1
a = 27
This may not happen every time, but each time it
happens it increases the error of the result.
We wanted a = 28

In thread1 …
a = a + 1
a = a + 1
a = 27
This may not happen every time, but each time it
happens it increases the error of the result.
We wanted a = 28
“Shared mutable state is the root of all evil.”
-- several different people, all at the same time

Techniques various and sundry for avoiding data races ...
● Locks! → a unit of execution acquires a lock, no other unit of execution can
acquire the lock until it is released
○ C and C++
● Synchronized blocks/functions/methods! → somebody writes the locks for you
○ Java
● Everything is read-only! → don’t need to worry about writes anymore
○ Erlang
● There’s only one binding to an object at any time! → move, borrow, copy
○ Rust

Techniques various and sundry for avoiding data races ...
● Locks! → a unit of execution acquires a lock, no other unit of execution can
acquire the lock until it is released
○ C and C++
● Synchronized blocks/functions/methods! → somebody writes the locks for you
○ Java
● Everything is read-only! → don’t need to worry about writes anymore
○ Erlang
● There’s only one binding to an object at any time! → move, borrow, copy
○ Rust
WELL
ACTUALLYNope, save it until the end.

Leaving The Data Races
Pony uses two rules to avoid data races:
● The Read Rule: If an actor can read an object then no other actor can modify
that object
● The Write Rule: If an actor can modify an object then no other actor can read
or modify it

Actors
Actors store state and act on that state in response to messages

Actor
● state
● behaviors
● functions
Actors
message3
message4
message1
message2 }Queue

THE LIFE OF ACTOR
THE LIFE OF ACTOR
THE LIFE OF ACTOR
THE LIFE OF ACTOR
THE LIFE OF ACTOR
THE LIFE OF ACTOR
WHICH / ONE WHICH / ONE
Actors
message3
message4
message1
message2 }Queue

THE LIFE OF ACTOR
THE LIFE OF ACTOR
THE LIFE OF ACTOR
THE LIFE OF ACTOR
THE LIFE OF ACTOR
THE LIFE OF ACTOR
Actors
Get next
message
message3
message4
message1
message2 }Queue

THE LIFE OF ACTOR
THE LIFE OF ACTOR
THE LIFE OF ACTOR
THE LIFE OF ACTOR
THE LIFE OF ACTOR
THE LIFE OF ACTOR
Actors
Get next
message
Process
message
message3
message4
message1
message2 }Queue

THE LIFE OF ACTOR
THE LIFE OF ACTOR
THE LIFE OF ACTOR
THE LIFE OF ACTOR
THE LIFE OF ACTOR
THE LIFE OF ACTOR
Actors
Get next
message
Process
message
Collect
garbage
message3
message4
message1
message2 }Queue

Actors
actor Donald
be foo(x: Something) =>
bar(x)
fun bar(x: Something) =>
// do something …
actor Jessica
let _d: Donald = Donald
let _s: Something = Something
be baz() =>
_d.foo(_s)

Actors
actor Donald
bar(x)
// do something …
actor Jessica
be baz() =>
_d.foo(_s)
“be” means
“behavior”, this is
what processes a
message

Actors
actor Donald
bar(x)
// do something …
actor Jessica
be baz() =>
_d.foo(_s)
“fun” means
“function”, these
are run by the
actor as part of
processing the
message

Actors
actor Donald
bar(x)
// do something …
actor Jessica
be baz() =>
_d.foo(_s)
An actor sends a
message to
another actor
using the
“<a>.<be>(...)”
syntax

Actors
actor Donald
bar(x)
// do something …
actor Jessica
be baz() =>
_d.foo(_s)
When talking
about Pony,
“method” means
either a function
or a behavior.

Actors
a1.bar() a2.baz() a1.bar()
a3.dee() a4.doo() a3.doh()
a5.moo()
a8.fee() a7.foo()
a6.mee()
a7.fuz()
time
CPU1: thread1
CPU2: thread2
CPU3: thread3
CPU4: thread4
Actors run on
threads (1 thread
per CPU by
default)

Actors
a1.bar() a2.baz()1 a1.bar()
a3.dee() a4.doo() a3.doh()
a5.moo()
a8.fee() a7.foo()
a6.mee()
a7.fuz()
time
CPU1: thread1
CPU2: thread2
CPU3: thread3
CPU4: thread4
a2.baz()2
Behaviors cannot
be preempted

Actors
a1.bar() a2.baz() a1.bar()
a1.buz() a4.doo() a3.doh()
a5.moo()
a8.fee() a7.foo()
a6.mee()
a7.fuz()
time
CPU1: thread1
CPU2: thread2
CPU3: thread3
CPU4: thread4
Actors process
one message at a
time

Actors: An Example
actor Example
var _text: String
new create(text: String) =>
_text = text
be foo(o: Other) =>
o.say(rev())
fun ref rev(): String val =>
_text = recover
_text.reverse()
end
_text
actor Other
let _env: Env
_env = env
be say(s: String) =>
_env.out.print(s)
actor Main
let e = Example("howdy")
let o = Other(env)
e.foo(o) // prints “ydwoh”
e.foo(o) // prints “howdy”

Actors: An Example
actor Example
var _text: String
_text = text
be foo(o: Other) =>
o.say(rev())
_text = recover
_text.reverse()
end
_text
actor Other
let _env: Env
_env = env
_env.out.print(s)
actor Main
let o = Other(env)
Main
create(env)

Actors: An Example
actor Example
var _text: String
_text = text
be foo(o: Other) =>
o.say(rev())
_text = recover
_text.reverse()
end
_text
actor Other
let _env: Env
_env = env
_env.out.print(s)
actor Main
let o = Other(env)
Main e
create(“howdy”)
create(env)

Actors: An Example
actor Example
var _text: String
_text = text
be foo(o: Other) =>
o.say(rev())
_text = recover
_text.reverse()
end
_text
actor Other
let _env: Env
_env = env
_env.out.print(s)
actor Main
let o = Other(env)
Main e
create(env)
o
create(“howdy)
create(env)

Actors: An Example
actor Example
var _text: String
_text = text
be foo(o: Other) =>
o.say(rev())
_text = recover
_text.reverse()
end
_text
actor Other
let _env: Env
_env = env
_env.out.print(s)
actor Main
let o = Other(env)
Main
create(env)create(“howdy)
foo(o)
e
_text=”howdy”
o
_env=env
create(env)

Actors: An Example
actor Example
var _text: String
_text = text
be foo(o: Other) =>
o.say(rev())
_text = recover
_text.reverse()
end
_text
actor Other
let _env: Env
_env = env
_env.out.print(s)
actor Main
let o = Other(env)
Main e
_text=”howdy”
o
_env=env
foo(o)1
foo(o)2
create(env)

foo(o)1
Actors: An Example
actor Example
var _text: String
_text = text
be foo(o: Other) =>
o.say(rev())
_text = recover
_text.reverse()
end
_text
actor Other
let _env: Env
_env = env
_env.out.print(s)
actor Main
let o = Other(env)
Main e
_text=”ydwoh”
o
_env=env
foo(o)2

foo(o)1
Actors: An Example
actor Example
var _text: String
_text = text
be foo(o: Other) =>
o.say(rev())
_text = recover
_text.reverse()
end
_text
actor Other
let _env: Env
_env = env
_env.out.print(s)
actor Main
let o = Other(env)
Main e
_text=”ydwoh”
o
_env=env
foo(o)2 say(“ydwoh”)

say(“ydwoh”)foo(o)2
Actors: An Example
actor Example
var _text: String
_text = text
be foo(o: Other) =>
o.say(rev())
_text = recover
_text.reverse()
end
_text
actor Other
let _env: Env
_env = env
_env.out.print(s)
actor Main
let o = Other(env)
Main e
_text=”howdy”
o
_env=env
YDWOH

foo(o)2
Actors: An Example
actor Example
var _text: String
_text = text
be foo(o: Other) =>
o.say(rev())
_text = recover
_text.reverse()
end
_text
actor Other
let _env: Env
_env = env
_env.out.print(s)
actor Main
let o = Other(env)
Main e
_text=”howdy”
o
_env=env
say(“howdy”)
YDWOH

say(“howdy”)
Actors: An Example
actor Example
var _text: String
_text = text
be foo(o: Other) =>
o.say(rev())
_text = recover
_text.reverse()
end
_text
actor Other
let _env: Env
_env = env
_env.out.print(s)
actor Main
let o = Other(env)
Main e
_text=”howdy”
o
_env=env
YDWOH
HOWDY

Actors: An Example
actor Example
var _text: String
_text = text
be foo(o: Other) =>
o.say(rev())
_text = recover
_text.reverse()
end
_text
actor Other
let _env: Env
_env = env
_env.out.print(s)
actor Main
let o = Other(env)
Main e
_text=”howdy”
o
_env=env
YDWOH
HOWDY

Backpressure?
“How does Pony
handle
backpressure?”

Backpressure?
“How does Pony
handle
backpressure?”
“We’re working on it”

Reference Capabilities
Remember the Read Rule and the Write Rule:
● The Read Rule: If an actor can read an object then no other actor can modify
that object
● The Write Rule: If an actor can modify an object then no other actor can read
or modify it

class Foo
class val Bar
let v: U32
new val create(vv: U32) =>
v = vv
actor Main
let a: Foo iso = recover Foo end
var b = Bar(1)
b = Bar(2)
baz(b)
fun baz(c: Bar): U32 =>
c.v + 16

SPOT THE REFERENCE
CAPABILITIES!
class Foo
class val Bar
let v: U32
v = vv
actor Main
var b = Bar(1)
b = Bar(2)
baz(b)
c.v + 16

SPOT THE EXPLICIT REFERENCE
CAPABILITIES!
SPOT THE IMPLIED REFERENCE
CAPABILITIES!
class ref Foo
class val Bar
let v: U32 val
new val create(vv: U32 val) =>
v = vv
actor tag Main
new create(env: Env val) =>
let a: Foo iso = recover iso
Foo
end
var b: Bar val = Bar(1)
b = Bar(2)
baz(b)
fun box baz(c: Bar val): U32 val =>
c.v + 16

Actors have a default reference
capability of tag, objects created
from classes have a default reference
capability of ref
You can change the implicit reference
capability of a class (normally it is
ref)
You can change the reference
capability of the object generated by
the constructor (normally it is ref)
class ref Foo
class val Bar
let v: U32 val
v = vv
actor tag Main
Foo
end
b = Bar(2)
baz(b)
c.v + 16

You can specify the type of reference
capability that the receiver must have
to call a function
class ref Foo
class val Bar
let v: U32 val
v = vv
actor tag Main
Foo
end
b = Bar(2)
baz(b)
c.v + 16

You can specify the type of reference
capability that the receiver must have
to call a function
This can get really tricky!
class ref Foo
class val Bar
let v: U32 val
v = vv
actor tag Main
Foo
end
b = Bar(2)
baz(b)
c.v + 16

An alias is a name given to a particular object in
memory
Aliases are created when
● an object is assigned to a variable
● an object is passed as an argument to a
method
class Foo
class val Bar
let v: U32
v = vv
actor Main
var b = Bar(1)
b = Bar(2)
baz(b)
c.v + 16

An object may have more than one alias,
possibly in more than one actor, but the
combination of aliases must not violate the read
rule and write rule.
● The Read Rule: If an actor can
read an object then no other
actor can modify that object
● The Write Rule: If an actor can
modify an object then no other
actor can read or modify it
class Foo
class val Bar
let v: U32
v = vv
actor Main
var b = Bar(1)
b = Bar(2)
baz(b)
c.v + 16

Reference Capabilities: A Visual Guide

A visual language

object
object
(class or
actor)
A visual language

object
alias
A visual language

object
ref cap
reference
capability
A visual language

object
actor boundary
ref cap
A visual language

object
alias can
send
object a
message
ref cap
A visual language

object
note: any
alias can
send an
actor a
message,
regardless of
reference
capability
ref cap
A visual language

object
alias
can
read
object
ref cap
A visual language

object
alias
can
modify
object
ref cap
A visual language

object another
alias in
the actor
can read
object
ref cap
A visual language

object
another
alias
outside
the actor
can read
object
ref cap
A visual language

objectanother
alias
inside the
actor can
modify
object
ref cap
A visual language

object
another
alias
outside
the actor
can
modify
object
ref cap
A visual language

object
ref cap
A visual language

object
ref cap
● The Read Rule: If an
actor can read an
object then no other
actor can modify that
object
● The Write Rule: If an
actor can modify an
actor can read or
modify it

Reference Capabilities: iso (isolated)
iso
actor can read an
object
actor can modify an
actor can read or
modify it
object
iso reference
can read and
modify an object.
No other
reference can
read or modify
the object.

Reference Capabilities: trn (transitional)
trn
actor can read an
object
actor can modify an
actor can read or
modify it
object
trn reference
can read and
modify an object.
No other
reference can
modify the
object, but the
actor may have
other references
that can read the
object.

Reference Capabilities: ref (reference)
ref
actor can read an
object
actor can modify an
actor can read or
modify it
object
ref reference
can read and
modify an object.
Other references
in the object may
be able to read
or modify the
object, but no
other actor may
have a reference
that can read or
modify it.

Reference Capabilities: val (value)
val
actor can read an
object
actor can modify an
actor can read or
modify it
object
val reference
can read an
object. The actor
may have other
references that
can read the
object, and other
actors may have
references that
can read the
object, but no
actor may have
a reference that
can modify it.

Reference Capabilities: box (box)
box
OR
box
actor can read an
object
actor can modify an
actor can read or
modify it
objectobject

box
OR
box
actor can read an
object
actor can modify an
actor can read or
modify it
objectobject
This looks like a ref This looks like a val

box
OR
box
actor can read an
object
actor can modify an
actor can read or
modify it
objectobject
A box capability is used when you want to create a new read-only
reference to an object that is either val or ref.
This looks like a ref This looks like a val

class X
let v: I32
new create(v': I32) =>
v = v'
actor Main
let a: X ref = X(7)
let b: X val = recover
X(8)
end
bar(a)
bar(b)
fun bar(x: X ???): I32 =>
x.v() + 1
What should the
reference capability
be?

class X
let v: I32
v = v'
actor Main
let a: X ref = X(7)
X(8)
end
bar(a)
bar(b)
fun bar(x: X ref): I32 =>
x.v() + 1

class X
let v: I32
v = v'
actor Main
let a: X ref = X(7)
X(8)
end
bar(a)
bar(b)
x.v() + 1
ref doesn’t work
because a ref (x)
can’t alias a val (b)

class X
let v: I32
v = v'
actor Main
let a: X ref = X(7)
X(8)
end
bar(a)
bar(b)
x.v() + 1
class X
let v: I32
v = v'
actor Main
let a: X ref = X(7)
X(8)
end
bar(a)
bar(b)
fun bar(x: X val): I32 =>
x.v() + 1
ref doesn’t work
because a ref (x)

class X
let v: I32
v = v'
actor Main
let a: X ref = X(7)
X(8)
end
bar(a)
bar(b)
x.v() + 1
class X
let v: I32
v = v'
actor Main
let a: X ref = X(7)
X(8)
end
bar(a)
bar(b)
x.v() + 1
ref doesn’t work
because a ref (x)
val Doesn’t work
because a val (x)
can’t alias a ref (a)

class X
let v: I32
v = v'
actor Main
let a: X ref = X(7)
X(8)
end
bar(a)
bar(b)
x.v() + 1
class X
let v: I32
v = v'
actor Main
let a: X ref = X(7)
X(8)
end
bar(a)
bar(b)
x.v() + 1
ref doesn’t work
because a ref (x)
val Doesn’t work
because a val (x)
class X
let v: I32
v = v'
actor Main
let a: X ref = X(7)
X(8)
end
bar(a)
bar(b)
fun bar(x: X box): I32 =>
x.v() + 1

class X
let v: I32
v = v'
actor Main
let a: X ref = X(7)
X(8)
end
bar(a)
bar(b)
x.v() + 1
class X
let v: I32
v = v'
actor Main
let a: X ref = X(7)
X(8)
end
bar(a)
bar(b)
x.v() + 1
ref doesn’t work
because a ref (x)
val Doesn’t work
because a val (x)
class X
let v: I32
v = v'
actor Main
let a: X ref = X(7)
X(8)
end
bar(a)
bar(b)
fun bar(x: X box): I32 =>
x.v() + 1
box works because
a box (x) can alias
a ref (a) or a val (b)

Reference Capabilities: tag (tag)
tag
actor can read an
object
actor can modify an
actor can read or
modify it
object
tag reference
cannot read or
modify an object,
but it can be
used to send the
object messages
if the object is an
actor. Other
references may
read or modify
the object as
long as they do
not violate the
Read Rule and
the Write Rule.

Readable → iso, trn, ref, val, box
iso trn
ref val
boxbox
OR
tag

Writeable → iso, trn, ref
iso trn
ref val
box box
OR
tag

Sendable → iso, val, tag
Objects with sendable reference
capabilities can be sent to other
actors in messages
iso trn
ref val
box box
OR
tag

Reference Capabilities: Sending A val
class Bar
actor Foo
be baz(x: Bar val) =>
// do something with x
actor Main
let f = Foo
let b = recover val Bar end
f.baz(b)

class Bar
actor Foo
actor Main
let f = Foo
f.baz(b)
main

class Bar
actor Foo
actor Main
let f = Foo
f.baz(b)
Main Foo
foo

class Bar
actor Foo
actor Main
let f = Foo
f.baz(b)
Main Foo
f
Bar
b

class Bar
actor Foo
actor Main
let f = Foo
f.baz(b)
Main Foo
f
Bar
b
baz( )

class Bar
actor Foo
actor Main
let f = Foo
f.baz(b)
Main Foo
f
Bar
b
baz( )
x

class Bar
actor Foo
actor Main
let f = Foo
f.baz(b)
Main Foo
f
Bar
b x
actor can read an
object
actor can modify an
actor can read or
modify it

Reference Capabilities: Sending A tag
actor Bar
actor Foo
be baz(x: Bar tag) =>
actor Main
let f = Foo
let b = Bar
f.baz(b)

actor Bar
actor Foo
actor Main
let f = Foo
let b = Bar
f.baz(b)
An actor’s default
reference
capability is tag

actor Bar
actor Foo
actor Main
let f = Foo
let b = Bar
f.baz(b)
main

actor Bar
actor Foo
actor Main
let f = Foo
let b = Bar
f.baz(b)
Main Foo
foo

actor Bar
actor Foo
actor Main
let f = Foo
let b = Bar
f.baz(b)
Main Foo
f
Bar
b

actor Bar
actor Foo
actor Main
let f = Foo
let b = Bar
f.baz(b)
Main Foo
f
Bar
b
baz( )

actor Bar
actor Foo
actor Main
let f = Foo
let b = Bar
f.baz(b)
Main Foo
f
Bar
b
baz( )
x

actor Bar
actor Foo
actor Main
let f = Foo
let b = Bar
f.baz(b)
Main Foo
f
Bar
b x
actor can read an
object
actor can modify an
actor can read or
modify it

Reference Capabilities: Sending An iso
class Bar
actor Foo
be baz(x: Bar iso) =>
actor Main
let f = Foo
let b = recover iso Bar end
f.baz(consume b)

class Bar
actor Foo
actor Main
let f = Foo
f.baz(consume b)
main

class Bar
actor Foo
actor Main
let f = Foo
f.baz(consume b)
Main Foo
foo

class Bar
actor Foo
actor Main
let f = Foo
f.baz(consume b)
Main Foo
f
Bar
b

class Bar
actor Foo
actor Main
let f = Foo
f.baz(consume b)
Main Foo
f
Bar
b
consume
causes b to
give up it’s
reference

class Bar
actor Foo
actor Main
let f = Foo
f.baz(consume b)
Main Foo
f
Bar
b
once we
consume b,
we can no
longer use it

class Bar
actor Foo
actor Main
let f = Foo
f.baz(consume b)
Main Foo
f
Bar
b
baz( )

class Bar
actor Foo
actor Main
let f = Foo
f.baz(consume b)
Main Foo
f
Bar
b
baz( )
x

class Bar
actor Foo
actor Main
let f = Foo
f.baz(consume b)
Main Foo
f
Bar
b x
actor can read an
object
actor can modify an
actor can read or
modify it

No More Data Races
use “collections”
actor Counter
var _count: U64 = 0
be increment() =>
_count = _count + 1
be print(env: Env) =>
env.out.print(_count.string())
actor Incrementer
new create(counter: Counter, main: Main) =>
for x in Range(0, 1_000_001) do
counter.increment()
end
main.finished(this)
actor Main
let _finished_count = 0
let _counter: Counter = Counter
let _env: Env
_env = env
let inc1 = Incrementer(_counter, this)
be finished() =>
_finished_count = _finished_count + 1
if _finished_count = 2 then
_counter.print(env)
end

No More Data Races
actor Counter
var _count: U64 = 0
be increment() =>
_count = _count + 1
actor Incrementer
counter.increment()
end
main.finished(this)
actor Main
let _env: Env
_env = env
be finished() =>
_counter.print(env)
end
2000000

No More Data Races
actor Counter
var _count: U64 = 0
be increment() =>
_count = _count + 1
actor Incrementer
counter.increment()
end
main.finished(this)
actor Main
let _env: Env
_env = env
be finished() =>
_counter.print(env)
end
The Counter
actor “protects”
the _count data
structure

Sendence’s Experience With Pony

It’s nice to catch errors a compile time rather than runtime

Pony is a young language (not even 1.0.0 yet)

● limited documentation

● things change

● things change
● there are some sharp edges (compiler bugs, runtime bugs)

● things change
● there are some sharp edges (compiler bugs, runtime bugs)
“America is all about speed. Hot, nasty, badass speed.” -- Eleanor Roosevelt
PONY

Learn More
(because I left a lot out)

Learn More
User Mailing List
● https://pony.groups.io/g/user
Website
● https://www.ponylang.org
IRC
● freenode #ponylang

Contribute
Developer Mailing List
● https://pony.groups.io/g/dev
Github
● Pony compiler → https://github.com/ponylang/ponyc
● RFCs → https://github.com/ponylang/rfcs

The Pony Programming Language

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The Pony Programming Language