Nominal C-Unification

Nominal unification is an extension of first-order unification that takes into account the \alpha-equivalence relation generated by binding operators, following the nominal approach. We propose a sound and complete procedure for nominal unification with commutative operators, or nominal C-unification for short, which has been formalised in Coq. The procedure transforms nominal C-unification problems into simpler (finite families) of fixpoint problems, whose solutions can be generated by algebraic techniques on combinatorics of permutations.Comment: Pre-proceedings paper presented at the 27th International Symposium on Logic-Based Program Synthesis and Transformation (LOPSTR 2017), Namur, Belgium, 10-12 October 2017 (arXiv:1708.07854

Nominal Unification of Higher Order Expressions with Recursive Let

A sound and complete algorithm for nominal unification of higher-order expressions with a recursive let is described, and shown to run in non-deterministic polynomial time. We also explore specializations like nominal letrec-matching for plain expressions and for DAGs and determine the complexity of corresponding unification problems.Comment: Pre-proceedings paper presented at the 26th International Symposium on Logic-Based Program Synthesis and Transformation (LOPSTR 2016), Edinburgh, Scotland UK, 6-8 September 2016 (arXiv:1608.02534

On Nominal Syntax and Permutation Fixed Points

We propose a new axiomatisation of the alpha-equivalence relation for nominal terms, based on a primitive notion of fixed-point constraint. We show that the standard freshness relation between atoms and terms can be derived from the more primitive notion of permutation fixed-point, and use this result to prove the correctness of the new $\alpha$-equivalence axiomatisation. This gives rise to a new notion of nominal unification, where solutions for unification problems are pairs of a fixed-point context and a substitution. Although it may seem less natural than the standard notion of nominal unifier based on freshness constraints, the notion of unifier based on fixed-point constraints behaves better when equational theories are considered: for example, nominal unification remains finitary in the presence of commutativity, whereas it becomes infinitary when unifiers are expressed using freshness contexts. We provide a definition of $\alpha$-equivalence modulo equational theories that take into account A, C and AC theories. Based on this notion of equivalence, we show that C-unification is finitary and we provide a sound and complete C-unification algorithm, as a first step towards the development of nominal unification modulo AC and other equational theories with permutative properties

Nominal equational problems modulo associativity, commutativity and associativity-commutativity

Tese (doutorado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Departamento de Ciência da Computação, 2019.A sintaxe nominal tem sido utilizada em vários contextos por quase duas décadas. Ela é uma ferramenta poderosa para se lidar com ligação de variáveis de uma forma concreta, que pode ser aplicada a qualquer especificação na qual parâmetros são utilizados para se abstrair variáveis, tal como em predicados e funções. Na sintaxe nominal, objetos que são sintaticamente diferentes podem ter a mesma semântica módulo alfa-conversão, tal como acontece no Cálculo Lambda. O tratamento de igualdades, em especial a alphaequivalêcia, é algo essencial em linguagens formais e implementações. Este trabalho investiga a alpha-equivalência nominal com símbolos de função associativos (A), comutativos (C) e associativos-comutativos (AC). Verificação de equivalência, casamento e unificação módulo A, C e AC são investigados. Em relação a verificação de igualdade, as alphaequivalências nominais módulo A, C e AC foram especificadas em Coq e provadas ser corretas. Um algoritmo implementado em OCaml para verificação de igualdade módulo A, C e AC é automaticamente extraído da especificação e experimentos são executados utilizando-se também um algoritmo aperfeiçoado. Limites superiores para o tempo de execução na solução de problemas nominais de verificação equacional são fornecidos. Um algoritmo de unificação módulo C baseado em regras de redução é especificado em Coq e provado ser correto e completo. Por meio do uso de variáveis protegidas, este algoritmo de unificação resolve problemas de casamento nominal módulo C, o que foi também formalizado ser correto e completo. O algoritmo de unificação baseado em regras de redução fornece uma família finita de conjuntos de equações nominais de ponto fixo. Cada uma destas equações pode ter um conjunto infinito de soluções independentes. Portanto, demonstra-se que problemas de unificação nominal módulo C e AC podem gerar um conjunto infinito de soluções independentes. Este fato contrasta com unificação sintática módulo C ou AC, que são conhecidas por estar na classe finitária de problemas. Uma implementação em OCaml do algoritmo de unificação nominal é fornecida e utilizado para se construir exemplos.The nominal syntax has been used in many application contexts for almost two decades. It is a powerful tool for dealing with variable binding in a concrete manner that can be applied to any specification in which parameters are used to abstract variables, such as in predicates and functions. In the nominal syntax, syntactically different objects can have the same semantics modulo alpha-conversion, as happens in the lambda calculus. Dealing with equality, and in special with alpha-equivalence, is essential in formal languages and implementations. This work investigates the nominal alpha-equivalence with associative (A), commutative (C) and associative-comutative (AC) function symbols. Equalitychecking, matching and unification modulo A, C and AC are investigated. Regarding equality-checking, nominal alpha-equivalence modulo A, C and AC are specified in Coq and proved sound. An algorithm implemented in OCaml for equality-checking modulo A, C and AC is automatically extracted from the specification and experiments are performed using also an improved algorithm. Upper bounds for solving nominal equality-checking problems are given. A rule-based nominal unification modulo C algorithm is specified in Coq and proved sound and complete. By using protected variables, this unification algorithm solves nominal matching problems modulo C, which is formalised to be sound and complete. The rule-based nominal unification algorithm outputs a finite family of sets of fixed point nominal equations. Each of which might have an infinite set of independent solutions. Therefore, nominal unification modulo C or AC are proved to potentially generate infinite independent solutions. This contrasts with syntactic unification modulo C or AC that are known to be in the finitary class. An OCaml implementation of the nominal unification algorithm is provided and used to build examples

Psi-calculi: a framework for mobile processes with nominal data and logic

The framework of psi-calculi extends the pi-calculus with nominal datatypes for data structures and for logical assertions and conditions. These can be transmitted between processes and their names can be statically scoped as in the standard pi-calculus. Psi-calculi can capture the same phenomena as other proposed extensions of the pi-calculus such as the applied pi-calculus, the spi-calculus, the fusion calculus, the concurrent constraint pi-calculus, and calculi with polyadic communication channels or pattern matching. Psi-calculi can be even more general, for example by allowing structured channels, higher-order formalisms such as the lambda calculus for data structures, and predicate logic for assertions. We provide ample comparisons to related calculi and discuss a few significant applications. Our labelled operational semantics and definition of bisimulation is straightforward, without a structural congruence. We establish minimal requirements on the nominal data and logic in order to prove general algebraic properties of psi-calculi, all of which have been checked in the interactive theorem prover Isabelle. Expressiveness of psi-calculi significantly exceeds that of other formalisms, while the purity of the semantics is on par with the original pi-calculus.Comment: 44 page

Nominal Logic Programming

Nominal logic is an extension of first-order logic which provides a simple foundation for formalizing and reasoning about abstract syntax modulo consistent renaming of bound names (that is, alpha-equivalence). This article investigates logic programming based on nominal logic. We describe some typical nominal logic programs, and develop the model-theoretic, proof-theoretic, and operational semantics of such programs. Besides being of interest for ensuring the correct behavior of implementations, these results provide a rigorous foundation for techniques for analysis and reasoning about nominal logic programs, as we illustrate via examples.Comment: 46 pages; 19 page appendix; 13 figures. Revised journal submission as of July 23, 200

Lazy Evaluation: From natural semantics to a machine-checked compiler transformation

In order to solve a long-standing problem with list fusion, a new compiler transformation, \u27Call Arity\u27 is developed and implemented in the Haskell compiler GHC. It is formally proven to not degrade program performance; the proof is machine-checked using the interactive theorem prover Isabelle. To that end, a formalization of Launchbury`s Natural Semantics for Lazy Evaluation is modelled in Isabelle, including a correctness and adequacy proof

Logical calculi for reasoning with binding

In informal mathematical usage we often reason about languages involving binding of object-variables. We find ourselves writing assertions involving meta-variables and capture-avoidance constraints on where object-variables can and cannot occur free. Formalising such assertions is problematic because the standard logical frameworks cannot express capture-avoidance constraints directly. In this thesis we make the case for extending logical frameworks with metavariables and capture-avoidance constraints. We use nominal techniques that allow for a direct formalisation of meta-level assertions, while remaining close to informal practice. Our focus is on derivability and we show that our derivation rules support the following key features of meta-level reasoning: • instantiation of meta-variables, by means of capturing substitution of terms for meta-variables; • ??-renaming of object-variables and capture-avoiding substitution of terms for object-variables in the presence of meta-variables; • generation of fresh object-variables inside a derivation. We apply our nominal techniques to the following two logical frameworks: • Equational logic. We investigate proof-theoretical properties, give a semantics in nominal sets and compare the notion of ??-renaming to existing notions of ??-equivalence with meta-variables. We also provide an axiomatisation of capture-avoiding substitution, and show that it is sound and complete with respect to the usual notion of capture-avoiding substitution. • First-order logic with equality. We provide a sequent calculus with metavariables and capture-avoidance constraints, and show that it represents schemas of derivations in first-order logic. We also show how we can axiomatise this notion of derivability in the calculus for equational logic

Formal Theories of Occurrences and Substitutions

Mathematische Grundlagen und wesentliche Methoden einer formalen Theorie von Vorkommen und Substitutionen werden anhand der Theorie von Vorkommen von Termen in Termen (einer erststufigen formalen Sprache der Logik) eingeführt. Darauf aufbauend werden intuitive Begriffe (etwa Unabhängigkeit von Vorkommen oder mathematische Rechenschritte) formal definiert und so einer mathematischen Argumentation zugänglich gemacht. Es werden exemplarisch Probleme diskutiert, die nur mithilfe einer formalen Theorie von Vorkommen gelöst werden können. Insbesondere wird der Begriff einer (expliziten) Substitutionsfunktion basierend auf dem Begriff der Substitution eingeführt, und es wird gezeigt, inwiefern diese Funktionen mit denen zusammenhängen, die üblicherweise als Substitutionsfunktion bezeichnet werden