Inductive Datatypes in HOL - Lessons Learned in Formal-Logic Engineering

Isabelle/HOL has recently acquired new versions of definitional packages for inductive datatypes and primitive recursive functions. In contrast to its predecessors and most other implementations, Isabelle/HOL datatypes may be mutually and indirect recursive, even infinitely branching. We also support inverted datatype definitions for characterizing existing types as being inductive ones later. All our constructions are fully definitional according to established HOL tradition. Stepping back from the logical details, we also see this work as a typical example of what could be called “Formal-Logic Engineering”. We observe that building realistic theorem proving environments involves further issues rather than pure logic only.