Formalizing Functions as Processes

We present the first formalization of Milner’s classic translation of the λ-calculus into the π-calculus. It is a challenging result with respect to variables, names, and binders, as it requires one to relate variables and binders of the λ-calculus with names and binders in the π-calculus. We formalize it in Abella, merging the set of variables and the set of names, thus circumventing the challenge and obtaining a neat formalization. About the translation, we follow Accattoli’s factoring of Milner’s result via the linear substitution calculus, which is a λ-calculus with explicit substitutions and contextual rewriting rules, mediating between the λ-calculus and the π-calculus. Another aim of the formalization is to investigate to which extent the use of contexts in Accattoli’s refinement can be formalized