Tactics for mechanized reasoning: A commentary on Milner (1984) 'The use of machines to assist in rigorous proof'

Abstract

Robin Milner's paper, 'The use ofmachines to assist in rigorous proof', introduces methods for automating mathematical reasoning that are a milestone in the development of computer-assisted theorem proving. His ideas, particularly his theory of tactics, revolutionized the architecture of proof assistants. His methodology for automating rigorous proof soundly, particularly his theory of type polymorphism in programing, led to major contributions to the theory and design of programing languages. His citation for the 1991 ACM A.M. Turing award, the most prestigious award in computer science, credits him with, among other achievements, 'probably the first theoretically based yet practical tool for machine assisted proof construction'.