Checking foundational proof certificates for first-order logic
Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: We present the design philosophy of a proof checker based on a notion of foundational proof certificates. This checker provides a semantics of proof evidence using recent advances in the theory of proofs for classical and intuitionistic logic. That semantics is then performed by a (higher-order) logic program: successful performance means that a formal proof of a theorem has been found. We describe how the λProlog programming language provides several features that help guarantee such a soundness claim. Some of these features (such as strong typing, abstract datatypes, and higher-order programming) were features of the ML programming language when it was first proposed as a proof checker for LCF. Other features of λProlog (such as support for bindings, substitution, and backtracking search) turn out to be equally important for describing and checking the proof evidence encoded in proof certificates. Since trusting our proof checker requires trusting a programming language implementation, we discuss various avenues for enhancing one’s trust of such a checker. 1
Authors: Zakaria Chihani, Dale Miller, Fabien Renaud
Language: English
Subfield: Software
Field: Computer Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2241711970