arXiv subjects

Daniele Nantes-Sobrinho

Publications and source records attributed to Daniele Nantes-Sobrinho.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Proceedings Twentieth International Workshop on Logical Frameworks and Meta-Languages: Theory and Practice

These are the contributed papers presented at the 20th International Workshop on Logical Frameworks and Meta-Languages: Theory and Practice (LFMTP 2025), at Birmingham, UK on 19 July as a satellite event of the FSCD conference. The program committee for this edition of LFMTP was chaired by Kaustuv Chaudhuri and Daniele Nantes-Sobrinho. More information about LFMTP can be found on https://lfmtp.org.

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arXiv2025

Compositional Symbolic Execution for the Next 700 Memory Models (Extended Version)

Multiple successful compositional symbolic execution (CSE) tools and platforms exploit separation logic (SL) for compositional verification and/or incorrectness separation logic (ISL) for compositional bug-finding, including VeriFast, Viper, Gillian, CN, and Infer-Pulse. Previous work on the Gillian platform, the only CSE platform that is parametric on the memory model, meaning that it can be instantiated to different memory models, suggests that the ability to use custom memory models allows for more flexibility in supporting analysis of a wide range of programming languages, for implementing custom automation, and for improving performance. However, the literature lacks a satisfactory formal foundation for memory-model-parametric CSE platforms. In this paper, inspired by Gillian, we provide a new formal foundation for memory-model-parametric CSE platforms. Our foundation advances the state of the art in four ways. First, we mechanise our foundation (in the interactive theorem prover Rocq). Second, we validate our foundation by instantiating it to a broad range of memory models, including models for C and CHERI. Third, whereas previous memory-model-parametric work has only covered SL analyses, we cover both SL and ISL analyses. Fourth, our foundation is based on standard definitions of SL and ISL (including definitions of function specification validity, to ensure sound interoperation with other tools and platforms also based on standard definitions).

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arXiv2025

Nominal Equational Rewriting and Narrowing

Narrowing is a well-known technique that adds to term rewriting mechanisms the required power to search for solutions to equational problems. Rewriting and narrowing are well-studied in first-order term languages, but several problems remain to be investigated when dealing with languages with binders using nominal techniques. Applications in programming languages and theorem proving require reasoning modulo alpha-equivalence considering structural congruences generated by equational axioms, such as commutativity. This paper presents the first definitions of nominal rewriting and narrowing modulo an equational theory. We establish a property called nominal E-coherence and demonstrate its role in identifying normal forms of nominal terms. Additionally, we prove the nominal E-Lifting theorem, which ensures the correspondence between sequences of nominal equational rewriting steps and narrowing, crucial for developing a correct algorithm for nominal equational unification via nominal equational narrowing. We illustrate our results using the equational theory for commutativity.

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arXiv2025

Nominal Equational Narrowing: Rewriting for Unification in Languages with Binders

Narrowing extends term rewriting with the ability to search for solutions to equational problems. While first-order rewriting and narrowing are well studied, significant challenges arise in the presence of binders, freshness conditions and equational axioms such as commutativity. This is problematic for applications in programming languages and theorem proving, where reasoning modulo renaming of bound variables, structural congruence, and freshness conditions is needed. To address these issues, we present a framework for nominal rewriting and narrowing modulo equational theories that intrinsically incorporates renaming and freshness conditions. We define and prove a key property called nominal E-coherence under freshness conditions, which characterises normal forms of nominal terms modulo renaming and equational axioms. Building on this, we establish the nominal E-lifting theorem, linking rewriting and narrowing sequences in the nominal setting. This foundational result enables the development of a nominal unification procedure based on equational narrowing, for which we provide a correctness proof. We illustrate the effectiveness of our approach with examples including symbolic differentiation and simplification of first-order formulas.

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arXiv2025

Equational Reasoning Modulo Commutativity in Languages with Binders (Extended Version)

Many formal languages include binders as well as operators that satisfy equational axioms, such as commutativity. Here we consider the nominal language, a general formal framework which provides support for the representation of binders, freshness conditions and $α$-renaming. Rather than relying on the usual freshness constraints, we introduce a nominal algebra which employs permutation fixed-point constraints in $α$-equivalence judgements, seamlessly integrating commutativity into the reasoning process. We establish its proof-theoretical properties and provide a sound and complete semantics in the setting of nominal sets. Additionally, we propose a novel algorithm for nominal unification modulo commutativity, which we prove terminating and correct. By leveraging fixed-point constraints, our approach ensures a finitary unification theory, unlike standard methods relying on freshness constraints. This framework offers a robust foundation for structural induction and recursion over syntax with binders and commutative operators, enabling reasoning in settings such as first-order logic and the $π$-calculus.

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arXiv2025

Generalization Problems with Atom-Variables in Languages with Binders and Equational Theories

Generalization problems in languages with binders involve computing the most common structure between expressions while respecting bound variable renaming and freshness constraints. These problems often lack a least general solution. However, leveraging nominal techniques, we previously demonstrated that a semantic approach with atom-variables enables the elimination of redundant solutions and allows for computing unique least general generalizations (LGGs). In this work, we extend this approach to handle associative (A), commutative (C), and associative-commutative (AC) equational theories. We present a sound and weak complete algorithm for solving equational generalization problems, which generates finite weak minimal complete sets of LGGs for each theory. A key challenge arises from solving equivariance problems while taking into account these equational theories, as identifying redundant generalizations requires recognizing when one expression (with binders) is a renaming of another while possibly considering permutations of sub-expressions. This unexpected interaction between renaming and equational reasoning made this particularly difficult, necessitating semantic tests within the equivariance algorithm. Given that these equational theories naturally induce exponentially large LGG sets due to subexpression permutations, future work could explore restricted theory fragments where the generalization problem remains unitary. In these fragments, LGGs can be computed efficiently in polynomial time, offering practical benefits for symbolic computation and automated reasoning tasks.

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arXiv2024

Typed Non-determinism in Concurrent Calculi: The Eager Way

We consider the problem of designing typed concurrent calculi with non-deterministic choice in which types leverage linearity for controlling resources, thereby ensuring strong correctness properties for processes. This problem is constrained by the delicate tension between non-determinism and linearity. Prior work developed a session-typed π-calculus with standard non-deterministic choice; well-typed processes enjoy type preservation and deadlock-freedom. Central to this typed calculus is a lazy semantics that gradually discards branches in choices. This lazy semantics, however, is complex: various technical elements are needed to describe the non-deterministic behavior of typed processes. This paper develops an entirely new approach, based on an eager semantics, which more directly represents choices and commitment. We present a π-calculus in which non-deterministic choices are governed by this eager semantics and session types. We establish its key correctness properties, including deadlock-freedom, and demonstrate its expressivity by correctly translating a typed resource λ-calculus.

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arXiv2024

Strong Nominal Semantics for Fixed-Point Constraints

Nominal algebra includes $α$-equality and freshness constraints on nominal terms endowed with a nominal set semantics that facilitates reasoning about languages with binders. Nominal unification is decidable and unitary, however, its extension with equational axioms such as Commutativity (which has a finitary first-order unification type) is no longer finitary unless permutation fixed-point constraints are used. In this paper, we extend the notion of nominal algebra by introducing fixed-point constraints and provide a sound semantics using strong nominal sets. We show, by providing a counter-example, that the class of nominal sets is not a sound denotation for this extended nominal algebra. To recover soundness we propose two different formulations of nominal algebra, one obtained by restricting to a class of fixed-point contexts that are in direct correspondence with freshness contexts and another obtained by using a different set of derivation rules.

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arXiv2024

Compositional Symbolic Execution for Correctness and Incorrectness Reasoning (Extended Version)

The introduction of separation logic has led to the development of symbolic execution techniques and tools that are (functionally) compositional with function specifications that can be used in broader calling contexts. Many of the compositional symbolic execution tools developed in academia and industry have been grounded on a formal foundation, but either the function specifications are not validated with respect to the underlying separation logic of the theory, or there is a large gulf between the theory and the implementation of the tool. We introduce a formal compositional symbolic execution engine which creates and uses function specifications from an underlying separation logic and provides a sound theoretical foundation for, and indeed was partially inspired by, the Gillian symbolic execution platform. This is achieved by providing an axiomatic interface which describes the properties of the consume and produce operations used in the engine to update compositionally the symbolic state, for example when calling function specifications. This consume-produce technique is used by VeriFast, Viper, and Gillian, but has not been previously characterised independently of the tool. As part of our result, we give consume and produce operations inspired by the Gillian implementation that satisfy the properties described by our axiomatic interface. A surprising property is that our engine semantics provides a common foundation for both correctness and incorrectness reasoning, with the difference in the underlying engine only amounting to the choice to use satisfiability or validity. We use this property to extend the Gillian platform, which previously only supported correctness reasoning, with incorrectness reasoning and automatic true bug-finding using incorrectness bi-abduction.

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arXiv2023

Non-Deterministic Functions as Non-Deterministic Processes (Extended Version)

We study encodings of the lambda-calculus into the pi-calculus in the unexplored case of calculi with non-determinism and failures. On the sequential side, we consider lambdafail, a new non-deterministic calculus in which intersection types control resources (terms); on the concurrent side, we consider spi, a pi-calculus in which non-determinism and failure rest upon a Curry-Howard correspondence between linear logic and session types. We present a typed encoding of lambdafail into spi and establish its correctness. Our encoding precisely explains the interplay of non-deterministic and fail-prone evaluation in lambdafail via typed processes in spi. In particular, it shows how failures in sequential evaluation (absence/excess of resources) can be neatly codified as interaction protocols.

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arXiv2023

Typed Non-determinism in Functional and Concurrent Calculi

We study functional and concurrent calculi with non-determinism, along with type systems to control resources based on linearity. The interplay between non-determinism and linearity is delicate: careless handling of branches can discard resources meant to be used exactly once. Here we go beyond prior work by considering non-determinism in its standard sense: once a branch is selected, the rest are discarded. Our technical contributions are three-fold. First, we introduce a $π$-calculus with non-deterministic choice, governed by session types. Second, we introduce a resource $λ$-calculus, governed by intersection types, in which non-determinism concerns fetching of resources from bags. Finally, we connect our two typed non-deterministic calculi via a correct translation.

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arXiv2023

Termination in Concurrency, Revisited

Termination is a central property in sequential programming models: a term is terminating if all its reduction sequences are finite. Termination is also important in concurrency in general, and for message-passing programs in particular. A variety of type systems that enforce termination by typing have been developed. In this paper, we rigorously compare several type systems for $π$-calculus processes from the unifying perspective of termination. Adopting session types as reference framework, we consider two different type systems: one follows Deng and Sangiorgi's weight-based approach; the other is Caires and Pfenning's Curry-Howard correspondence between linear logic and session types. Our technical results precisely connect these very different type systems, and shed light on the classes of client/server interactions they admit as correct.

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arXiv2023

Proceedings 17th International Workshop on Logical and Semantic Frameworks with Applications

This volume contains the post-proceedings of the Seventeenth Logical and Semantic Frameworks with Applications (LSFA 2022), organised by the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting was held hybridly, on September 23-24, 2022. LSFA aims to bring together researchers and students interested in theoretical and practical aspects of logical and semantic frameworks and their applications. The covered topics include proof theory, type theory and rewriting theory, specification and deduction languages, and formal semantics of languages and systems.

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arXiv2022

Types and Terms Translated: Unrestricted Resources in Encoding Functions as Processes (Extended Version)

Type-preserving translations are effective rigorous tools in the study of core programming calculi. In this paper, we develop a new typed translation that connects sequential and concurrent calculi; it is governed by type systems that control resource consumption. Our main contribution is the source language, a new resource $λ$-calculus with non-determinism and failures, dubbed \ulamf. In \ulamf, resources are split into linear and unrestricted; failures are explicit and arise from this distinction. We define a type system based on intersection types to control resources and fail-prone computation. The target language is \spi, an existing session-typed $π$-calculus that results from a Curry-Howard correspondence between linear logic and session types. Our typed translation subsumes our prior work; interestingly, it treats unrestricted resources in \lamrfailunres as client-server session behaviours in \spi.

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arXiv2020

On Nominal Syntax and Permutation Fixed Points

We propose a new axiomatisation of the alpha-equivalence relation for nominal terms, based on a primitive notion of fixed-point constraint. We show that the standard freshness relation between atoms and terms can be derived from the more primitive notion of permutation fixed-point, and use this result to prove the correctness of the new $α$-equivalence axiomatisation. This gives rise to a new notion of nominal unification, where solutions for unification problems are pairs of a fixed-point context and a substitution. Although it may seem less natural than the standard notion of nominal unifier based on freshness constraints, the notion of unifier based on fixed-point constraints behaves better when equational theories are considered: for example, nominal unification remains finitary in the presence of commutativity, whereas it becomes infinitary when unifiers are expressed using freshness contexts. We provide a definition of $α$-equivalence modulo equational theories that take into account A, C and AC theories. Based on this notion of equivalence, we show that C-unification is finitary and we provide a sound and complete C-unification algorithm, as a first step towards the development of nominal unification modulo AC and other equational theories with permutative properties.

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arXiv2017

Nominal C-Unification

Nominal unification is an extension of first-order unification that takes into account the α-equivalence relation generated by binding operators, following the nominal approach. We propose a sound and complete procedure for nominal unification with commutative operators, or nominal C-unification for short, which has been formalised in Coq. The procedure transforms nominal C-unification problems into simpler (finite families) of fixpoint problems, whose solutions can be generated by algebraic techniques on combinatorics of permutations.

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arXiv2013

Elementary Deduction Problem for Locally Stable Theories with Normal Forms

We present an algorithm to decide the intruder deduction problem (IDP) for a class of locally stable theories enriched with normal forms. Our result relies on a new and efficient algorithm to solve a restricted case of higher-order associative-commutative matching, obtained by combining the Distinct Occurrences of AC- matching algorithm and a standard algorithm to solve systems of linear Diophantine equations. A translation between natural deduction and sequent calculus allows us to use the same approach to decide the \emphelementary deduction problem for locally stable theories. As an application, we model the theory of blind signatures and derive an algorithm to decide IDP in this context, extending previous decidability results.

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