Work

Use and Abuse of Instance Parameters in the Lean Mathematical Library

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: The Lean mathematical library Mathlib features extensive use of the typeclass pattern for organising mathematical structures, based on Lean’s mechanism of instance parameters. Related mechanisms for typeclasses are available in other provers including Agda, Coq and Isabelle with varying degrees of adoption. This paper analyses representative examples of design patterns involving instance parameters in the finalized Lean 3 version of Mathlib, focussing on complications arising at scale and how the Mathlib community deals with them.

Source: Journal of Automated Reasoning

DOI: 10.1007/s10817-024-09712-7

Author: Anne Baanen

Institution: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Language: English

Topic: Logic, programming, and type systems

Subfield: Artificial Intelligence

Field: Computer Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,990

Funder: Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek