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Proof style

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Types for Proofs and Programs (TYPES 1996)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 1512))

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Abstract

We are concerned with how computer theorem provers should expect users to communicate proofs to them. There are many stylistic choices that still allow the machine to generate a completely formal proof object. The most obvious choice is the amount of guidance required from the user, or from the machine perspective, the degree of automation provided. But another important consideration, which we consider particularly significant, is the bias towards a ‘procedural’ or ‘declarative’ proof style. We will explore this choice in depth, and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of declarative and procedural styles for proofs in pure mathematics and for verification applications. We conclude with a brief summary of our own experiments in trying to combine both approaches.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Computer Laboratory New Museums Site, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, CB2 3QG, Cambridge, England

    John Harrison

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  1. John Harrison
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Eduardo Giménez Christine Paulin-Mohring

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© 1998 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Harrison, J. (1998). Proof style. In: Giménez, E., Paulin-Mohring, C. (eds) Types for Proofs and Programs. TYPES 1996. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 1512. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg . https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0097791

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0097791

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-65137-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-49562-8

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