Lispflows: specification of a model for functional programs

The authors define and provide example uses of a dataflow model of functional language programs. This model, called a lispflow, represents functional programs in much the same way flowgraphs model imperative programs. The lispflow model provides insight into the fundamental structure of functional language programs. Thus it can be used to define software tools and software measures for functional language programs, analogous to similar flowgraph-based tools for imperative language programs. The authors define several structures based on the lispflow model of functional programs, which demonstrate the utility of the dataflow model