Linear types for higher order processes with first class directed channels

Abstract We present a small programming language for distributed systems based on message passing processes. In contrast to similar languages, channels are one-to-one connections between a unique sender and a unique receiver process. Process definitions and channels are first class values and the topology of process systems can change dynamically. The operational semantics of the language is defined by means of graph rewriting rules. A static type system based on the notion of linear types ensures that channels are always used as one-to-one connections.