322 research outputs found
Initiality for Typed Syntax and Semantics
We give an algebraic characterization of the syntax and semantics of a class
of simply-typed languages, such as the language PCF: we characterize
simply-typed binding syntax equipped with reduction rules via a universal
property, namely as the initial object of some category. For this purpose, we
employ techniques developed in two previous works: in [2], we model syntactic
translations between languages over different sets of types as initial
morphisms in a category of models. In [1], we characterize untyped syntax with
reduction rules as initial object in a category of models. In the present work,
we show that those techniques are modular enough to be combined: we thus
characterize simply-typed syntax with reduction rules as initial object in a
category. The universal property yields an operator which allows to specify
translations - that are semantically faithful by construction - between
languages over possibly different sets of types.
We specify a language by a 2-signature, that is, a signature on two levels:
the syntactic level specifies the types and terms of the language, and
associates a type to each term. The semantic level specifies, through
inequations, reduction rules on the terms of the language. To any given
2-signature we associate a category of models. We prove that this category has
an initial object, which integrates the types and terms freely generated by the
2-signature, and the reduction relation on those terms generated by the given
inequations. We call this object the (programming) language generated by the
2-signature.
[1] Ahrens, B.: Modules over relative monads for syntax and semantics (2011),
arXiv:1107.5252, to be published in Math. Struct. in Comp. Science
[2] Ahrens, B.: Extended Initiality for Typed Abstract Syntax. Logical
Methods in Computer Science 8(2), 1-35 (2012)Comment: presented at WoLLIC 2012, 15 page
Extended Initiality for Typed Abstract Syntax
Initial Semantics aims at interpreting the syntax associated to a signature
as the initial object of some category of 'models', yielding induction and
recursion principles for abstract syntax. Zsid\'o proves an initiality result
for simply-typed syntax: given a signature S, the abstract syntax associated to
S constitutes the initial object in a category of models of S in monads.
However, the iteration principle her theorem provides only accounts for
translations between two languages over a fixed set of object types. We
generalize Zsid\'o's notion of model such that object types may vary, yielding
a larger category, while preserving initiality of the syntax therein. Thus we
obtain an extended initiality theorem for typed abstract syntax, in which
translations between terms over different types can be specified via the
associated category-theoretic iteration operator as an initial morphism. Our
definitions ensure that translations specified via initiality are type-safe,
i.e. compatible with the typing in the source and target language in the
obvious sense. Our main example is given via the propositions-as-types
paradigm: we specify propositions and inference rules of classical and
intuitionistic propositional logics through their respective typed signatures.
Afterwards we use the category--theoretic iteration operator to specify a
double negation translation from the former to the latter. A second example is
given by the signature of PCF. For this particular case, we formalize the
theorem in the proof assistant Coq. Afterwards we specify, via the
category-theoretic iteration operator, translations from PCF to the untyped
lambda calculus
Initial Semantics for Reduction Rules
We give an algebraic characterization of the syntax and operational semantics
of a class of simply-typed languages, such as the language PCF: we characterize
simply-typed syntax with variable binding and equipped with reduction rules via
a universal property, namely as the initial object of some category of models.
For this purpose, we employ techniques developed in two previous works: in the
first work we model syntactic translations between languages over different
sets of types as initial morphisms in a category of models. In the second work
we characterize untyped syntax with reduction rules as initial object in a
category of models. In the present work, we combine the techniques used earlier
in order to characterize simply-typed syntax with reduction rules as initial
object in a category. The universal property yields an operator which allows to
specify translations---that are semantically faithful by construction---between
languages over possibly different sets of types.
As an example, we upgrade a translation from PCF to the untyped lambda
calculus, given in previous work, to account for reduction in the source and
target. Specifically, we specify a reduction semantics in the source and target
language through suitable rules. By equipping the untyped lambda calculus with
the structure of a model of PCF, initiality yields a translation from PCF to
the lambda calculus, that is faithful with respect to the reduction semantics
specified by the rules.
This paper is an extended version of an article published in the proceedings
of WoLLIC 2012.Comment: Extended version of arXiv:1206.4547, proves a variant of a result of
PhD thesis arXiv:1206.455
Relational parametricity for higher kinds
Reynolds’ notion of relational parametricity has been extremely influential and well studied for polymorphic programming languages and type theories based on System F. The extension of relational parametricity to higher kinded polymorphism, which allows quantification over type operators as well as types, has not received as much attention. We present a model of relational parametricity for System Fω, within the impredicative Calculus of Inductive Constructions, and show how it forms an instance of a general class of models defined by Hasegawa. We investigate some of the consequences of our model and show that it supports the definition of inductive types, indexed by an arbitrary kind, and with reasoning principles provided by initiality
Heterogeneous substitution systems revisited
Matthes and Uustalu (TCS 327(1-2):155-174, 2004) presented a categorical
description of substitution systems capable of capturing syntax involving
binding which is independent of whether the syntax is made up from least or
greatest fixed points. We extend this work in two directions: we continue the
analysis by creating more categorical structure, in particular by organizing
substitution systems into a category and studying its properties, and we
develop the proofs of the results of the cited paper and our new ones in
UniMath, a recent library of univalent mathematics formalized in the Coq
theorem prover.Comment: 24 page
High-level signatures and initial semantics
We present a device for specifying and reasoning about syntax for datatypes,
programming languages, and logic calculi. More precisely, we study a notion of
signature for specifying syntactic constructions.
In the spirit of Initial Semantics, we define the syntax generated by a
signature to be the initial object---if it exists---in a suitable category of
models. In our framework, the existence of an associated syntax to a signature
is not automatically guaranteed. We identify, via the notion of presentation of
a signature, a large class of signatures that do generate a syntax.
Our (presentable) signatures subsume classical algebraic signatures (i.e.,
signatures for languages with variable binding, such as the pure lambda
calculus) and extend them to include several other significant examples of
syntactic constructions.
One key feature of our notions of signature, syntax, and presentation is that
they are highly compositional, in the sense that complex examples can be
obtained by assembling simpler ones. Moreover, through the Initial Semantics
approach, our framework provides, beyond the desired algebra of terms, a
well-behaved substitution and the induction and recursion principles associated
to the syntax.
This paper builds upon ideas from a previous attempt by Hirschowitz-Maggesi,
which, in turn, was directly inspired by some earlier work of
Ghani-Uustalu-Hamana and Matthes-Uustalu.
The main results presented in the paper are computer-checked within the
UniMath system.Comment: v2: extended version of the article as published in CSL 2018
(http://dx.doi.org/10.4230/LIPIcs.CSL.2018.4); list of changes given in
Section 1.5 of the paper; v3: small corrections throughout the paper, no
major change
Type-Theoretic Signatures for Algebraic Theories and Inductive Types
We develop the usage of certain type theories as specification languages for
algebraic theories and inductive types. We observe that the expressive power of
dependent type theories proves useful in the specification of more complicated
algebraic theories. We describe syntax and semantics for three classes of
algebraic theories: finitary quotient inductive-inductive theories, their
infinitary generalization, and finally higher inductive-inductive theories. In
each case, an algebraic signature is a typing context or a closed type in a
specific type theory
Initial Semantics for higher-order typed syntax in Coq
Initial Semantics aims at characterizing the syntax associated to a signature
as the initial object of some category. We present an initial semantics result
for typed higher-order syntax together with its formalization in the Coq proof
assistant. The main theorem was first proved on paper in the second author's
PhD thesis in 2010, and verified formally shortly afterwards. To a simply-typed
binding signature S over a fixed set T of object types we associate a category
called the category of representations of S. We show that this category has an
initial object Sigma(S). From its construction it will be clear that the object
Sigma(S) merits the name abstract syntax associated to S. Our theorem is
implemented and proved correct in the proof assistant Coq through heavy use of
dependent types. The approach through monads gives rise to an implementation of
syntax where both terms and variables are intrinsically typed, i.e. where the
object types are reflected in the meta-level types. This article is to be seen
as a research article rather than about the formalization of a classical
mathematical result. The nature of our theorem - involving lengthy, technical
proofs and complicated algebraic structures - makes it particularly interesting
for formal verification. Our goal is to promote the use of computer theorem
provers as research tools, and, accordingly, a new way of publishing
mathematical results: a parallel description of a theorem and its formalization
should allow the verification of correct transcription of definitions and
statements into the proof assistant, and straightforward but technical proofs
should be well-hidden in a digital library. We argue that Coq's rich type
theory, combined with its various features such as implicit arguments, allows a
particularly readable formalization and is hence well-suited for communicating
mathematics.Comment: Article as published in JFR (cf. Journal ref). Features some more
example
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