Abstract

This paper presents the motivations for and current stage of development of a tool for recording HOL proofs in a browsable format. The proofs recorded are window inference proofs produced using the TkWinHOL interface to the HOL window Library. The ultimate aim of the work is to help resolve the conflicting requirements for formality and readability in proof. 1 Introduction It is possible to discern two attitudes toward proofs in the computer science community. Some regard a proof as a formal mathematical object, while the others view proof as a social process --- a proof is an argument that convinces its reader. These views have been largely incompatible. Complete and formal proofs, such as the ones recorded by Wai Wong's extension of the HOL system [10], are too long and detailed to be understood by, and therefore convince, a human reader. On the other hand, many researchers place more faith in proofs like these than in less formal, but more readable, proofs because of the number o...

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