diff --git a/src/Explanation_Template_Polymorphism.v b/src/Explanation_Template_Polymorphism.v new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cf94673 --- /dev/null +++ b/src/Explanation_Template_Polymorphism.v @@ -0,0 +1,405 @@ +(** * Template vs. “full” universe polymorphism + + *** Main contributors + + Sébastien Michelland, Yannick Zakowski. + + *** Summary + + Universe polymorphism in Coq is a thorny subject in general, in the sense + that it's rather difficult to approach for non-experts. Part of it is due + to the fact that Coq hides most things universes by default. For jobs that + don't need universe polymorphism, Coq does the right thing basically all + the time with no user input, which is fantastic. However, when universe + polymorphism _is_ needed and you, as a user, need to get into it, the + hidden mechanisms tend to work against you. So let's unpack that. + + Coq provides two mechanisms to support universe polymorphism in a broad + sense. The historically first mechanism implemented is named “template + polymorphism”. Nowadays, “proper” universe polymorphism is also supported. + Unfortunately, numerous definitions in the standard library, such as the + product type, are defined as template polymorphic, which may lead to + troubles: in this tutorial, we illustrate when and where things can go + wrong. + + We'll first go through examples of monomorphic (i.e., fixed) universes to + explain the initial problem. From there, showing what template universe + polymorphism does and why it's not enough is actually fairly + straightforward. This eventually leads to universe polymorphism as a more + general solution. + + *** Contents + + - 1. Quick reminder about universes + - 2. Some issues with monomorphic universes + - 3. What template universe polymorphism does and doesn't do + - 3.1. Principle + - 3.2. Breaking cycles with template polymorphism + - 3.3. Template polymorphism doesn't go through intermediate definitions + - 4. A taste of “full” universe polymorphism + - 4.1. Principle + - 4.2. Universe polymorphic definitions + + *** Prerequisites + + Needed: + - The reader should have a basic understanding of universes. There is a + reminder below but not at all a complete explanation. + + Not needed: + - Experience with universe polymorphism. + + Installation: No plugins or libraries required. +*) + +(** ** 1. Quick reminder about universes + + A basic understanding of universes would be best to read this tutorial, but + just in case here's a quick recap'. + + The reason for universes is that there is no obvious type that can be + assigned to the term [Type]. You can decide not to give it a type (in which + case the calculus has more or less two kinds, values and types, like in + Haskell). But if you decide to give it one, as the Calculus of + Constructions does, you cannot make it [Type] itself, because [Type: Type] + leads to logical inconsistencies known as Girard's paradox. ([Check Type] + might appear to say that, but there are universes hidden there that Coq + only prints if you ask for [Set Printing Universes], as we'll see.) + + The basic idea for universes is to organize types into a hierarchy. Usual + datatypes such as natural numbers or strings have as type the bottom + element in the hierarchy, [Type@{0}]. The type of [Type@{0}] is the next + element [Type@{1}]; the type of [Type@{1}] is [Type@{2}], and so on, with + the typing rule [Type@{i}: Type@{i+1}] (infinitely). The type-to-element + relation is well-founded, which salvages consistency. The integer + associated with each element of the hierarchy is called a _universe level_ + or _universe_ for short. + + In Coq, [Type@{0}] is written [Set] for historical reasons. The word [Type] + on its own doesn't refer to any particular universe level; instead, it + means something closer to [Type@{_}] where Coq infers a universe level + based on context, which can be confusing. This is why any job that involves + inspecting universes requires [Set Printing Universes], and why here we'll + will write most universes explicitly. + + Beyond checking the types of sorts, universes above 0 appear as a result of + quantification. As a naïve intuition, any term that quantifies over types + lives in a universe higher than 0. For example, the sort of base values + like [73] is [Type@{0}] since [73: nat: Type{0}]. However, the sort of a + basic [list] type constructor [list] will be [Type@{1}], following the + judgement [list: Type@{0} -> Type@{0}: Type@{1}]. + + Coq implements a rule called _cumulativity_ (which is independent from the + CoC) which extends the judgement of universes to [Type@{i}: Type@{j}] for + [i < j]. This makes it so that higher universes as essentially “larger” + than lower universes, as if the lower universes were literally included in + the higher ones. + + All of this results in the following basic rule: wherever a type in universe + [Type@{j}] is expected, you can provide a type from any universe smaller + than [j], i.e. that lives in [Type@{i}] with [i <= j]. This is the main + criterion that one has to care about when testing and debugging universes. + + Let's see this in action by looking at a completely monomorphic definition + of a product type, i.e., one that lives in a single fixed universe. As + mentioned before, Coq tries pretty hard to hide universes from you. One of + the consequences is that we need [Set Printing Universes] to see anything + we're doing. *) +Open Scope type_scope. +Set Printing Universes. + +(** Let us create a variable [uprod] representing a universe level, and then + the product of two types living in universe [uprod]. *) +Universe uprod. +Inductive mprod (A B: Type@{uprod}) := mpair (a: A) (b: B). + +(** For simplicity we're using the same universe level for both A and B; this + is irrelevant to the issues below. *) +About mprod. + +(** uprod is a fixed universe, and so the basic rule applies: we can use it with + any type that lives in a lower universe, but we can't use it with a type + that lives in a higher universe. *) +Check (fun (T: Type@{uprod}) => mprod T T). +Fail Check (fun (T: Type@{uprod+1}) => mprod T T). + +(** You might think that [uprod] has to be a specific concrete integer so that + universe consistency checks can be performed during typing. However, we can + satisfy CoC rules without assigning specific integers and keep universes + like [uprod] symbolic as long as there _exists_ a concrete assignment that + keeps things well-typed. + + Coq uses these so-called “algebraic” universes: a universe number is either + a symbol (e.g. [uprod]), the successor of a symbol (e.g. [uprod+1]), or the + max of two levels (e.g. [max(uprod, uprod+1)]). Counter-intuitively, we + actually cannot specify universes directly by numbers. *) + +Check Type@{uprod}. +Check Type@{uprod+1}. +Check Type@{max(uprod, uprod+1)}. +(* Check Type@{10}. *) +(* Error: Syntax error: '_' '}' or [universe] expected after '@{' (in [sort]). *) + +(** The operators [+1] and [max] arise from typing rules; the important part is + that these are the only ones needed to implement all the rules. The calculus + of integers with [+1], [max], [<=] and [<] is decidable and thus it's + possible for Coq to carry out universe consistency checks using these + algebraic universes without assigning concrete numbers. + + Instead, when you use a term of type [Type@{i}] where a term of type + [Type@{j}] is required, Coq checks that the _constraint_ [i <= j] is + realizable: if it is, the constraint is recorded and the term is well-typed; + otherwise a universe inconsistency error is raised. *) + +(** For instance if we instantiate mprod with a [Set], we get [Set <= uprod], + because a type at level [uprod] was expected and we provided one at level + [Set]. The constraint is realizable so the definition is accepted. *) +Check (mprod (nat: Set)). + +(** If we instantiate with a Type at level 1, we get the stronger constraint + [Set < uprod]. It's still realizable, so the definition typechecks again; + however, all future definitions must be compatible with the constraint, + otherwise there will be a universe inconsistency. *) +Check (fun (T: Type@{Set+1}) => mprod T). + +(** What we have to accept now is that we're never getting a concrete value out + of that universe [uprod]: it's always going to remain a variable, and it + will only evolve in its relations with other universe variables, i.e. + through constraints. *) + +(** ** 2. Some issues with monomorphic universes *) + +(** The core limitations of template universe polymorphism are related to when + it doesn't activate and leaves you with monomorphic universes, so we can + demonstrate most of the issues directly on monomorphic universes. + + Let's introduce a new universe [u]. Initially [u] and [uprod] are + unrelated, which we can see by printing the section of the constraint graph + that mentions these two universes. (Note that we don't care about the + [Set < x] constraints; all global universes have it.) **) +Universe u. +Print Universes Subgraph (u uprod). + +(** Now if we instantiate [mprod] with a [Type@{u}], we get a new constraint + that [u <= uprod]. Note that this constraint is _global_, so it now affects + typing for all remaining code! *) +Definition mprod_u (T: Type@{u}) := mprod T T. +Print Universes Subgraph (u uprod). + +(** (This is one of the reasons why universes can be difficult to debug in Coq: + any _use_ of a definition might impact universe constraints, so importing + certain combinations of modules, adding debug lemmas, or any other change in + global scope can affect whether code ten files over typechecks.) *) + +(** This constraint changes if we now try to use [mprod] with a [Type@{u+1}]. *) +Definition mprod_up1 (T: Type@{u+1}) := mprod T. +Print Universes Subgraph (u uprod). + +(** This is a pretty artificial example, but as mentioned in the introduction + universe bumps occur naturally due to quantification. For example, let's say + we want a “lazy” value wrapper that stores values through unevaluated + functions. *) +Inductive lazyT: Type -> Type := + | lazy {A: Type} (f: unit -> A): lazyT A. + +(** [lazy] contains a universe bump: due to quantification, the types that we + provide for [A] will have to live in strictly smaller universes than the + associated [lazyT]. This is not required by the type itself... *) +About lazyT. +(* lazyT : Type@{lazyT.u0} -> Type@{max(Set,lazyT.u1+1)} *) + +(** But it is required by the [lazy] function, which takes a [lazyT.u1], thus + structurally smaller than [lazyT] which lives at level [lazyT.u1+1]. *) +About lazy. +(* lazy : forall {A : Type@{lazyT.u1}}, (unit -> A) -> lazyT A *) + +(** Note that the bump only exists because [lazy] quantifies on [A]. In this + simple example, we could make [A] a parameter of the inductive instead of an + index and avoid the bump, but it's not the case in general (e.g., the freer + monad or functor laws). *) + +(** We can see this in a universe constraint if we bring them both in a single + definition, such as the very natural [lazy_pure] function below. A universe + variable [lazy_pure.u0] is introduced for [A], and since we supply [A] as + (implicit) argument to [lazy]'s [A] argument which lives in universe level + [lazyT.u1], we get [lazy_pure.u0 <= lazyT.u1]. + + Since [lazyT] itself lives at level [lazyT.u1+1], the new constraint + [lazy_pure.u0 <= lazyT.u1] implies a strict inequality between the + universes of [A] and [lazyT A]. *) +Definition lazy_pure {A: Type} (a: A): lazyT A := lazy (fun _ => a). +Print Universes Subgraph (lazy_pure.u0 lazyT.u0 lazyT.u1). + +(** We run into the typical limitation of monomorphic universes if we now + happen to want products in these two places at once: + - Products as arguments to [lazyT] (enforcing [uprod <= lazyT.u1]) + - [lazyT] within products (enforcing [lazyT.u1+1 <= uprod]). + This is a very common thing to want, especially when passing values around as + products, which happens all the time. *) + +(** Currently we don't have any constraint between [lazyT.u1] and [uprod]. *) +Print Universes Subgraph (lazyT.u1 uprod). + +(** If we were now to use [mprod] in a [lazyT], we'd get [uprod <= lazyT.u1]. *) +Definition lazy_pure_mprod {A B: Type} (a: A) (b: B): lazyT (mprod A B) := + lazy_pure (mpair _ _ a b). +Print Universes Subgraph (lazyT.u1 uprod). + +(** Conversely, if we used [lazyT] in [mprod], we'd get [lazyT.u1 < uprod]. + Because we've defined [lazy_pure_mprod], this is inconsistent with existing + constraints, so the definition doesn't typecheck! *) +Fail Definition mprod_lazy {A B: Type} (a: A) (b: B): + mprod (layzT A) (lazyT B) := + mpair _ _ (lazy_pure a) (lazy_pure b). + +(** This definition would have been accepted had we not defined + [lazy_pure_mprod] just prior. In fact, we can have _either_ one of these + definitions, but we can't have _both_. Which is typically how you get to + errors appearing or disappearing based on what modules have been imported + and in what order, a.k.a., everyone's favorite. *) + +(** ** 3. What template universe polymorphism does and doesn't do *) + +(** *** Principle *) + +(** Template universe polymorphism is a middle-ground between monomorphic + universes and proper polymorphic universes that allow for some degree of + flexibility. We can see it mentioned in the description of [prod] from the + standard library; [About] says "[prod] is template universe polymorphic on + [prod.u0] [prod.u1]". This has no effect on the printed type, because it + only affects instances. *) +About prod. + +(** Now, remember how [mprod] lives at level [uprod] all the time? This shows if + we instantiate it with any random type: we get [mprod T T: Type@{uprod}]. *) +Check (fun (T: Type) => mprod T T). + +(** Now the same with the standard [prod] gives us a slightly different + result. *) +Check (fun (T: Type) => T * T). + +(** Ignoring the fact that prod has two separate universes for its arguments, + the real difference is that [T * T] lives in the same universe as [T] (which + is called [Type@{Top.N}] or [Type@{JsCoq.N}] for some [N], depending on the + environment in which you're running this file), not in a fixed universe like + [uprod]. We could also instantiate [prod] with propositions or sets and the + resulting product would correspondingly live in [Prop] or [Set]. *) +Check (fun (P: Prop) => P * P). +Check (fun (S: Set) => S * S). + +(** In other words, [prod] can live in different universes depending on what + arguments it is applied to, making it “universe polymorphic” in a certain + sense. You can think about it as being parameterized over universe levels, + with the constraint that the input levels must be below [prod.u0] and + [prod.u1] respectively. *) + +(** *** Breaking cycles with template polymorphism *) + +(** It looks like we've solved our universe problem now because we can have both + definitions of [prod] within [lazyT] and [lazyT] within [prod]. *) +Definition lazy_pure_prod {A B: Type} (a: A) (b: B): lazyT (A * B) := + lazy_pure (pair a b). +Definition prod_lazy {A B: Type} (a: A) (b: B): lazyT A * lazyT B := + pair (lazy_pure a) (lazy_pure b). + +(** The constraints are not gone: it's just that now the two instances of [prod] + live in different universes: + - In [lazy_pure_prod], [A] and [B] live in [lazy_pure_prod.u0] and + [lazy_pure_prod.u1] respectively; [prod] lives in the max of both which + must be lower than [lazyT.u1], meaning [lazy_pure_prod.{u0,u1} <= + lazyT.u1]. + - In [prod_lazy], [lazyT A * lazyT B] is built out of two types in + [lazyT.u1+1], meaning that [lazyT.u1 < prod.{u0,u1}]. *) +Print Universes Subgraph ( + lazyT.u1 prod.u0 prod.u1 + lazy_pure_prod.u0 lazy_pure_prod.u1 + prod_lazy.u0 prod_lazy.u1). + +(** There are other constraints here but they're unrelated to the inconsistency + that we had with the monomorphic version. *) + +(** *** Template polymorphism doesn't go through intermediate definitions *) + +(** And thus, that's the problem solved... but only when the universe at fault + comes from an inductive type directly (here, [prod]). Template polymorphic + universes don't propagate to any other derived definition. So if we define + the state monad for example, it will not itself be universe polymorphic at + all, and thus it will exhibit the same behavior as [mprod]. *) +Definition state (S: Type) := fun (T: Type) => S -> (S * T). +About state. + +(** [state.{u0,u1}] correspond to the old [uprod]: the type of [T] is + monomorphic. Notice how [About state] doesn't say that [state] is template + universe polymorphic, while it does for [prod]. So now the issue from + earlier comes up again. *) +Definition state_pure {S T: Type} (t: T): state S T := fun s => (s, t). +Definition lazy_pure_state {S T: Type} (t: T): lazyT (state S T) := + lazy_pure (state_pure (S := S) t). +Fail Definition state_lazy {S T: Type} (t: T): state S (lazyT T) := + state_pure (S := S) (lazy_pure t). + +(** Tricks to bypass the limitations of template universe polymorphism generally + consist in exposing the template-polymorphic inductive, [prod] in this case, + in order to get a fresh universe from it. Two examples are: + - Inlining: expanding the definition of [state] in the examples above + exposes [prod] which generates fresh universe levels. This doesn't + prevent Coq from later matching/unifiying the expanded term with the + original [state], so it usually works as long as you can dig deep enough + to find the problematic inductive. Of course, this comes at the cost of + breaking any nice abstractions you might have. + - Eta-expansion: writing [prod] without arguments doesn't generate fresh + universes for the purpose of template polymorphism, so eta-expanding to + [fun A B => prod A B] can help relax universe constraints. *) + +(** These limitations are rather annoying because constructions based on [prod] + are _everywhere_ in the standard library and in projects. The state monad is + just one in a million. It's also the same problem with [sum] many other + core types like [list]. *) +About sum. +About list. + +(** ** 4. A taste of “full” universe polymorphism ***) + +(** *** Principle *) + +(** Template universe polymorphism is limited in that it only applies to + inductives and any indirect uses of such a type are just monomorphic. The + proper way to have universe polymorphism is to allow it on any definition so + that quantification can remain when defining things like state. + + Universe polymorphism extends the language of universes with universe + parameters, which are similar to universe variables except that they are + quantified over by definitions. *) + +(** We can enable universe polymorphism from here onward with [Set Universe + Polymorphism]. We need it on basically every type and definition. *) +Set Universe Polymorphism. +Inductive pprod (A B: Type) := ppair (a: A) (b: B). +About pprod. + +(** Notice how [pprod] has _universe parameters_ [u] and [u0]. We can + instantiate [pprod] with different such parameters and this will yield + many variations of the same definition in as many universes. *) +Check pprod@{Set Set}. +Check pprod@{uprod uprod}. + +(** So far, this is the same as template universe polymorphism. *) + +(** *** Universe polymorphic definitions *) + +(** The new trick is that definitions derived from [pprod] can retain the + polymorphism by having their own universe parameters. *) +Definition pstate (S: Type) := fun (T: Type) => S -> (pprod S T). +About pstate. + +(** Now [pstate] also has universe parameters and the expressiveness of [pprod] + is no longer lost. *) +Definition pstate_pure {S T: Type} (t: T): pstate S T := fun s => ppair _ _ s t. +Definition lazy_pure_pstate {S T: Type} (t: T): lazyT (pstate S T) := + lazy_pure (pstate_pure (S := S) t). +Definition pstate_lazy {S T: Type} (t: T): pstate S (lazyT T) := + pstate_pure (S := S) (lazy_pure t). + +(** This solution completely solves the state issue from our running example... + with the drawback of redefining the product type, which creates friction + with the standard library. *) diff --git a/src/index.html b/src/index.html index fe1a55b..62669a7 100644 --- a/src/index.html +++ b/src/index.html @@ -44,6 +44,12 @@

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  • + Explanation of template vs. “full” universe polymorphism: + interactive version + and + source code +
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