Fredrik Nordvall Forsberg

Inductive-inductive definitions

We present a principle for introducing new types in type theory which generalises strictly positive indexed inductive data types. In this new principle a set A is defined inductively simultaneously with an A-indexed set B, which is also defined inductively. Compared to indexed inductive definitions, the novelty is that the index set A is generated inductively simultaneously with B. In other words, we mutually define two inductive sets, of which one depends on the other. Instances of this principle have previously been used in order to formalise type theory inside type theory. However the consistency of the framework used (the theorem prover Agda) is not so clear, as it allows the definition of a universe containing a code for itself. We give an axiomatisation of the new principle in such a way that the resulting type theory is consistent, which we prove by constructing a set-theoretic model.

Extracting verified decision procedures: DPLL and Resolution

This article is concerned with the application of the program extraction technique to a new class of problems: the synthesis of decision procedures for the classical satisfiability problem that are correct by construction. To this end, we formalize a completeness proof for the DPLL proof system and extract a SAT solver from it. When applied to a propositional formula in conjunctive normal form the program produces either a satisfying assignment or a DPLL derivation showing its unsatisfiability. We use non-computational quantifiers to remove redundant computational content from the extracted program and translate it into Haskell to improve performance. We also prove the equivalence between the resolution proof system and the DPLL proof system with a bound on the size of the resulting resolution proof. This demonstrates that it is possible to capture quantitative information about the extracted program on the proof level. The formalization is carried out in the interactive proof assistant Minlog.

A categorical semantics for inductive-inductive definitions

Induction-induction is a principle for defining data types in Martin-Lof Type Theory. An inductive-inductive definition consists of a set A, together with an A-indexed family B : A → Set, where both A and B are inductively defined in such a way that the constructors for A can refer to B and vice versa. In addition, the constructors for B can refer to the constructors for A. We extend the usual initial algebra semantics for ordinary inductive data types to the inductive-inductive setting by considering dialgebras instead of ordinary algebras. This gives a new and compact formalisation of inductive-inductive definitions, which we prove is equivalent to the usual formulation with elimination rules.

Quotient inductive-inductive types

The hiding operation, crucial in the compositional aspect of game semantics, removes computation paths not leading to observable results. Accordingly, games models are usually biased towards angelic non-determinism: diverging branches are forgotten. We present here new categories of games, not suffering from this bias. In our first category, we achieve this by avoiding hiding altogether; instead morphisms are uncovered strategies (with neutral events) up to weak bisimulation. Then, we show that by hiding only certain events dubbed inessential we can consider strategies up to isomorphism, and still get a category – this partial hiding remains sound up to weak bisimulation, so we get a concrete representations of programs (as in standard concurrent games) while avoiding the angelic bias. These techniques are illustrated with an interpretation of affine nondeterministic PCF which is adequate for weak bisimulation; and may, must and fair convergences.

Program extraction from nested definitions

Minlog is a proof assistant which automatically extracts computational content in an extension of Godels T from formalized proofs. We report on extending Minlog to deal with predicates defined using a particular combination of induction and coinduction, via so-called nested definitions. In order to increase the efficiency of the extracted programs, we have also implemented a feature to translate terms into Haskell programs. To illustrate our theory and implementation, a formalisation of a theory of uniformly continuous functions due to Berger is presented.

A compositional treatment of iterated open games

Compositional Game Theory is a new, recently introduced model of economic games based upon the computer science idea of compositionality. In it, complex and irregular games can be built up from smaller and simpler games, and the equilibria of these complex games can be defined recursively from the equilibria of their simpler subgames. This paper extends the model by providing a final coalgebra semantics for infinite games. In the course of this, we introduce a new operator on games to model the economic concept of subgame perfection.

Comprehensive parametric polymorphism: categorical models and type theory

This paper combines reflexive-graph-category structure for relational parametricity with fibrational models of impredicative polymorphism. To achieve this, we modify the definition of fibrational model of impredicative polymorphism by adding one further ingredient to the structure: comprehension in the sense of Lawvere. Our main result is that such comprehensive models, once further endowed with reflexive-graph-category structure, enjoy the expected consequences of parametricity. This is proved using a type-theoretic presentation of the category-theoretic structure, within which the desired consequences of parametricity are derived. The formalisation requires new techniques because equality relations are not available, and standard arguments that exploit equality need to be reworked.

Parametric polymorphism - universally

In the 1980s, John Reynolds postulated that a parametrically polymorphic function is an ad-hoc polymorphic function satisfying a uniformity principle. This allowed him to prove that his set-theoretic semantics has a relational lifting which satisfies the Identity Extension Lemma and the Abstraction Theorem. However, his definition (and subsequent variants) have only been given for specific models. In contrast, we give a model-independent axiomatic treatment by characterising Reynolds’ definition via a universal property, and show that the above results follow from this universal property in the axiomatic setting.

Fibred Data Types

Data types are undergoing a major leap forward in their sophistication driven by a conjunction of i) theoretical advances in the foundations of data types; and ii) requirements of programmers for ever more control of the data structures they work with. In this paper we develop a theory of indexed data types where, crucially, the indices are generated inductively at the same time as the data. In order to avoid commitment to any specific notion of indexing we take an axiomatic approach to such data types using fibrations - thus giving us a theory of what we call fibred data types. The genesis of these fibred data types can be traced within the literature, most notably to Dybjer and Setzers introduction of the concept of induction-recursion. This paper, while drawing heavily on their seminal work for inspiration, gives a categorical reformulation of Dybjer and Setzers original work which leads to a large number of extensions of induction-recursion. Concretely, the paper provides i) conceptual clarity as to what inductionrecursion fundamentally is about; ii) greater expressiveness in allowing not just the inductive-recursive definition of families of sets, or even indexed families of sets, but rather the inductiverecursive definition of a whole host of other structures; iii) a semantics for induction-recursion based not on the specific model of families, but rather an axiomatic model based upon fibrations which therefore encompasses diverse structures (domain theoretic, realisability, games etc) arising in the semantics of programming languages; and iv) technical justification as to why these fibred data types exist using large cardinals from set theory.

A finite axiomatisation of inductive-inductive definitions

Induction-induction is a priciple for mutually defining data types A : Set and B : A Set. Both A and B are defined inductively, and the constructors for A can refer to B and vice versa.