Efficient Logical Frameworks

逻辑框架是一种语言，用于在机器的支持下形式化地描述逻辑并进行推理。例如，用于证明程序安全性或验证受保护数据访问权限的逻辑。该项目研究逻辑框架的理论基础和有效的实现技术。具体地说，该项目解决了目前大规模应用Twell f逻辑框架的性能瓶颈问题，旨在改善国家网络基础设施内移动代码的安全和保障。这些技术包括基于内在冗余的证据压缩方法，以及提高证据搜索和验证的自动化程度的方法。逻辑是计算机科学中的一门关键学科，因为它允许我们做出明确的判断，例如：“是的，这个程序运行是安全的”或“是的，这个代理被允许访问这些数据”。关键的概念是正式的证明，它可以让代码接受者相信它的安全性或操作系统的访问权限。逻辑框架代表了诸如数据结构这样的证据。本项目研究如何有效地操作这些数据结构，以便将其用于实际的大规模应用程序。正在建设中的系统还用于向本科生传授形式逻辑的概念，因为它们应用于计算机科学和数学。

Logical frameworks are languages for specifying logics and reasoning with them formally, with machine support. Examples are logics to prove the safety of programs or authenticate access rights to protected data. The project investigates theoretical foundations and efficient implementation techniques for logical frameworks. Specifically, the project addresses performance bottlenecks in current, large-scale applications of the Twelf logical framework aimed at improving safety and security of mobile code within the national cyber infrastructure. The techniques include methods for proof compression based on intrinsic redundancy, and methods to increase the degree of automation in proof search and verification.Logic is a key discipline in computer science because it allows us to make definitive judgments such as "yes, this program is safe to run" or "yes, this agent is allowed to access these data". The critical notion is that of a formal proof, which can convince a code recipient of its safety or an operating system of access rights. Logical frameworks represent such proofs as data structures. This project investigates methods to manipulate these data structures efficiently so they can be used in realistic, large-scale applications. The system under construction is also used to teach undergraduates the concepts of formal logic as they are applied in computer science and mathematics.