A Note on Shortest Developments

De Vrijer has presented a proof of the finite developments theorem which, in addition to showing that all developments are finite, gives an effective reduction strategy computing longest developments as well as a simple formula computing their length. We show that by applying a rather simple and intuitive principle of duality to de Vrijer's approach one arrives at a proof that some developments are finite which in addition yields an effective reduction strategy computing shortest developments as well as a simple formula computing their length. The duality fails for general beta-reduction. Our results simplify previous work by Khasidashvili

Proof-irrelevant model of CC with predicative induction and judgmental equality

We present a set-theoretic, proof-irrelevant model for Calculus of Constructions (CC) with predicative induction and judgmental equality in Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory with an axiom for countably many inaccessible cardinals. We use Aczel's trace encoding which is universally defined for any function type, regardless of being impredicative. Direct and concrete interpretations of simultaneous induction and mutually recursive functions are also provided by extending Dybjer's interpretations on the basis of Aczel's rule sets. Our model can be regarded as a higher-order generalization of the truth-table methods. We provide a relatively simple consistency proof of type theory, which can be used as the basis for a theorem prover

Infinitary Combinatory Reduction Systems: Confluence

We study confluence in the setting of higher-order infinitary rewriting, in particular for infinitary Combinatory Reduction Systems (iCRSs). We prove that fully-extended, orthogonal iCRSs are confluent modulo identification of hypercollapsing subterms. As a corollary, we obtain that fully-extended, orthogonal iCRSs have the normal form property and the unique normal form property (with respect to reduction). We also show that, unlike the case in first-order infinitary rewriting, almost non-collapsing iCRSs are not necessarily confluent