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Hoare type theory, polymorphism and separation1

Part of: JFP Research Articles

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2008

ALEKSANDAR NANEVSKI ,
GREG MORRISETT  and
LARS BIRKEDAL
ALEKSANDAR NANEVSKI
Affiliation:
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA (e-mail: aleks@eecs.harvard.edu, greg@eecs.harvard.edu)
GREG MORRISETT
Affiliation:
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA (e-mail: aleks@eecs.harvard.edu, greg@eecs.harvard.edu)
LARS BIRKEDAL
Affiliation:
IT University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark (e-mail: birkedal@itu.dk)
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Abstract

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We consider the problem of reconciling a dependently typed functional language with imperative features such as mutable higher-order state, pointer aliasing, and nontermination. We propose Hoare type theory (HTT), which incorporates Hoare-style specifications into types, making it possible to statically track and enforce correct use of side effects.

The main feature of HTT is the Hoare type {P}x:A{Q} specifying computations with precondition P and postcondition Q that return a result of type A. Hoare types can be nested, combined with other types, and abstracted, leading to a smooth integration with higher-order functions and type polymorphism.

We further show that in the presence of type polymorphism, it becomes possible to interpret the Hoare types in the “small footprint” manner, as advocated by separation logic, whereby specifications tightly describe the state required by the computation.

We establish that HTT is sound and compositional, in the sense that separate verifications of individual program components suffice to ensure the correctness of the composite program.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Functional Programming , Volume 18 , Special Double Issue 5-6 , September 2008 , pp. 865 - 911
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

Footnotes

1

A preliminary version of this paper was presented at the ACM SIGPLAN International Conference on Functional Programming, ICFP 2006.

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