The Higher Order Programming Environment is an architectural template for implementing end-user processes as finite automata (FA) in a distributed computing space. FA's inter-communicate with semanticized data, enabling the end-user to create unique and custom computational stacks out of FA building blocks, called "receptors", which self-wire based on the semantic "interest" of each receptor in the semantic information emitted by other receptors (similar to a pub-sub architecture.) Applications developed in the HOPE architecture are continually emergent in that new semantic types (and therefore concrete meaning) can be created from existing data and new computational stacks can be constructed from existing and/or new receptors to work with new meaning (information.) Unique ways of rendering information can be immediately plugged into an existing computation stack, as rending, being just another kind of computation, is implemented as a receptor.
Text-to-speech, 2D and 3D modeling, language translation, charting, these are all ways that a user can dynamically create specialized user interfaces for their individual needs.

Application development occurs in several tiers. The underlying framework is open sourced, whereas receptor development can be either contributed to the open source community or the receptor assembly sold commercially or held privately by individuals or corporations for their proprietary use. The framework and receptors are developed in the traditional software development process with programmers. Conversely, many HOPE application stacks can be implemented by users with little training, although complex stacks often utilize specialized application stack consultants. Being an open architecture, the end-user can also contract or hire in-house receptor developers, either for commercial purposes or for propriety in-house algorithms. Regardless, all communities can draw on the growing number of open-source receptors either to use directly or to customize for their own purposes.

Receptors are semantic finite automata. As in a pub-sub architecture, receptors inform a broker of semantic data in which the receptor has interest. Semantic information that is published by a receptor is automatically distributed to subscribing receptors.
However, the receptor can qualify acceptance of the information using non-static filters (dynamic filtering allows receptors to adjust for overall internal and external system state.) Furthermore, the broker can "emit" sub-components of a semantic structure to interested subscriber receptors when the sub-component is itself semantic (as opposed to a native computer type.) This enables unique computational stacks on semantic subsets without having to specifically break apart the semantic structure into its components.

• An APOD website scraper applet:

• Membrane Computing (release 6-9-2014):

• Natural Language Processing of RSS Feeds

Watch the videos:

• Introduction
• An APOD Website Scraper
• Membrane Computing Video
• Hunt the Wumpus Video

Read the articles:

• Introductory Article
• APOD Scraper Article
• Hunt the Wumpus
• Semantic Web and Natural Language Processing

We are actively looking for developers interested in:

1. Expanding our library of receptors. Some ideas: Email "reader", stock quotes reader, news feed, etc.
2. Porting HOPE to a web application supporting both desktop and mobile devices
3. Improving on visualizations
4. Developing applets from receptors

We are actively seeking to create interest in a variety of markets, including education, finance, presentation, and information management. We are also seeking investors for both the open source implementation and in the development of the commercial, revenue-generating arm.

Workshops will be schelued and specific training tools will available after the initial development cycle is complete.

GNU GPL V2