The BLOG Language Reference

Lei Li and Stuart J. Russell

EECS Department, University of California, Berkeley

Technical Report No. UCB/EECS-2013-51

May 8, 2013

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http://www2.eecs.berkeley.edu/Pubs/TechRpts/2013/Archive/EECS-2013-51.pdf

This document introduces the syntax of BLOG, a probabilistic programming language, for describing random variables and their probabilistic dependencies. BLOG defines probabilistic generative models over first-order structures. For example, all Bayesian networks can be easily described by BLOG. BLOG has the following features: (a) it employs open-universe semantics; (b) it can describe relational uncertainty; (c) it can handle identity uncertainty; and (d) it is empowered by first-order logic. The syntax as described in this document corresponds to BLOG version 0.6. The current version represents a significant redesign and extension to previous versions of BLOG, based on the principles of usability and implementation efficiency.

BibTeX citation:

@techreport{Li:EECS-2013-51,
    Author= {Li, Lei and Russell, Stuart J.},
    Title= {The BLOG Language Reference},
    Year= {2013},
    Month= {May},
    Url= {http://www2.eecs.berkeley.edu/Pubs/TechRpts/2013/EECS-2013-51.html},
    Number= {UCB/EECS-2013-51},
    Abstract= {This document introduces the syntax of BLOG, a probabilistic programming language, for describing random variables and their probabilistic dependencies. BLOG defines probabilistic generative models over first-order structures. For example, all Bayesian networks can be easily described by BLOG. BLOG has the following features: 
(a) it employs open-universe semantics;
(b) it can describe relational uncertainty;
(c) it can handle identity uncertainty; and
(d) it is empowered by first-order logic.
The syntax as described in this document corresponds to BLOG version 0.6. The current version represents a significant redesign and extension to previous versions of BLOG, based on the principles of usability and implementation efficiency.},
}

EndNote citation:

%0 Report
%A Li, Lei 
%A Russell, Stuart J. 
%T The BLOG Language Reference
%I EECS Department, University of California, Berkeley
%D 2013
%8 May 8
%@ UCB/EECS-2013-51
%U http://www2.eecs.berkeley.edu/Pubs/TechRpts/2013/EECS-2013-51.html
%F Li:EECS-2013-51