Professor Barry Porter
Professor of Adaptive SystemsResearch Overview
I research and develop cutting-edge emergent software platforms to solve problems of software complexity and optimality, with the aim of redefining the role of the programmer to be a designer of intent rather than a writer of low-level behavioural fragments. To do this I work heavily with component models, meta-software platforms and machine learning. I am particularly interested in distributed systems elements of this including cloud integration with small devices like sensor nodes; malleable green computing; multi-core software organisation; and real-time software visualisation.
Career Details
Academic Qualifications:
Doctor of Philosophy (2007)
1st Class BSc. Hons in Computer Science (2004)
Employment:
Lecturer, School of Computing and Communications, Lancaster University (2013-present)
Research Fellow, School of Computing, University of St Andrews (2011-2013)
Research Associate, School of Computing and Communications, Lancaster University (2008-2011)
Professional Role
Co-chair of the MidSens workshop, associated with the ACM Middleware conference
PhD Supervision Interests
Emergent software, runtime adaptation, component-based software, machine learning
Selected Publications
Self-Designing Software
Porter, B., Faulkner Rainford, P., Rodrigues-Filho, R. 31/01/2025 In: Communications of the ACM. 68, 1, p. 50-59. 10 p.
Journal article
Uniform Projection of Program Space Geometry for Genetic Improvement of Software
Craine, B., Porter, B. 19/03/2025
Conference contribution/Paper
Defining emergent software using continuous self-assembly, perception and learning
Rodrigues Filho, R., Porter, B.F. 09/2017 In: ACM Transactions on Autonomous and Adaptive Systems. 12, 3, 25 p.
Journal article
REX: a development platform and online learning approach for Runtime emergent software systems
Porter, B.F., Grieves, M., Rodrigues Filho, R., Leslie, D.S. 2/11/2016
Conference contribution/Paper
Phenotypic Species Definitions for Genetic Improvement of Source Code
Nemeth, Z., Faulkner Rainford, P., Porter, B. 15/05/2024
Conference contribution/Paper
Losing control: the case for emergent software systems using autonomous assembly, perception and learning
Porter, B.F., Rodrigues Filho, R. 8/12/2016
Conference contribution/Paper
Experiments with a machine-centric approach to realise distributed emergent software systems
Rodrigues Filho, R., Porter, B.F. 13/12/2016
Conference contribution/Paper
Runtime modularity in complex structures: a component model for fine grained runtime adaptation
Porter, B. 06/2014
Conference contribution/Paper
All Publications
B-EGI: Bio-Enhanced Genetic Improvement for Emergent Software Systems
01/03/2023 → 05/11/2026
Research
BBC Prosperity Partnership - Future Personalised Object-Based Media Experiences Delivered at Scale Anywhere
01/10/2021 → 30/09/2027
Research
Deep Online Cognition in Modular Software
01/09/2015 → 31/08/2017
Research
Wireless Sensor Network Testbeds
01/06/2008 → 30/05/2011
Other
- Centre of Excellence in Environmental Data Science
- DSI - Foundations
- DSI - Health
- Lancaster Intelligent, Robotic and Autonomous Systems Centre
- LIRA - Fundamentals
- SCC (Distributed Systems)