We present a formal study of semantics for the relational programming language miniKanren. First, we formulate a denotational semantics which corresponds to the minimal Herbrand model for definite logic programs. Second, we present operational semantics which models interleaving, the distinctive feature of miniKanren implementation, and prove its soundness and completeness w.r.t. the denotational semantics. Our development is supported by a Coq specification, from which a reference interpreter can be extracted. We also derive from our main result a certified semantics (and a reference interpreter) for SLD resolution with cut and prove its soundness.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProgramming Languages and Systems - 18th Asian Symposium, APLAS 2020, Proceedings
EditorsBruno C. Oliveira
PublisherSpringer Nature
Pages167-185
Number of pages19
ISBN (Print)9783030644369
DOIs
StatePublished - 2020
Event18th Asian Symposium on Programming Languages and Systems, APLAS 2020 - Fukuoka, Japan
Duration: 30 Nov 20202 Dec 2020

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume12470 LNCS
ISSN (Print)0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

Conference

Conference18th Asian Symposium on Programming Languages and Systems, APLAS 2020
Country/TerritoryJapan
CityFukuoka
Period30/11/202/12/20

    Scopus subject areas

  • Theoretical Computer Science
  • Computer Science(all)

ID: 76606691