Isabelle/HOL: A Proof Assistant for Higher-Order Logic
✒️ By Tobias Nipkow, Lawrence C. Paulson, Markus Wenzel
Isabelle/HOL: A Proof Assistant for Higher-Order Logic is your hands-on guide to mastering interactive proofs in higher-order logic. Written by experts Tobias Nipkow, Lawrence C. Paulson, and Markus Wenzel, this book walks you through the essentials of using Isabelle/HOL for modeling, specification, and verification. Whether you’re a student, a software engineer, or a researcher diving into formal methods, this book keeps things approachable and practical. It covers everything from functional programming basics to advanced topics like inductive sets and security protocol verification. If you’re curious about how proof assistants can transform the way you handle logic and correctness, this book is a must-read.
Book Description
Looking to sharpen your proof skills or just curious about what all the fuss is around interactive theorem proving? Isabelle/HOL: A Proof Assistant for Higher-Order Logic is a friendly yet comprehensive introduction to the world of formal verification using Isabelle/HOL. Written by the powerhouse trio Tobias Nipkow, Lawrence C. Paulson, and Markus Wenzel, this book is designed with real users in mindno research jargon overload here!
The book starts with the basics of higher-order logic (HOL) and gently guides you through modeling functional programs and building proofs step by step. You’ll find plenty of examples involving lists, natural numbers, recursion techniques, and more. As you gain confidence, you’ll explore sets, functions, relations, and even tackle advanced topics like inductively defined sets and verifying security protocols. The writing stays practical throughoutperfect if you want to actually use Isabelle/HOL rather than just read about it.
This book is ideal for students in computer science or mathematics courses, software engineers interested in formal methods, or researchers needing a solid foundation in interactive proofs. If you’ve ever wondered how automated reasoning tools can help ensure correctness in your projectsor if you just love logic puzzlesthis is your launchpad.
What You Will Learn
- How to set up and navigate the Isabelle/HOL environment
- Fundamentals of higher-order logic (HOL) with practical examples
- Techniques for modeling functional programs and data types
- Simplification strategies and induction heuristics for proof automation
- Working with sets, functions, relations, and inductive definitions
- Advanced material: records, overloading, numeric types, and more
- Step-by-step walkthroughs for verifying real-world protocols like Needham-Schroeder
- How to prepare readable formal documents using Isabelle’s tools
The authors assume you’re comfortable with basic discrete math concepts and functional programming but don’t require deep background in mathematical logic. The explanations are clear enough for beginners yet detailed enough to be a handy reference as your skills grow.
If you’re interested in broadening your understanding of formal verification or looking to apply proof assistants in your work or studies, this book will give you both the theory and hands-on know-how.
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