Verification of higher-order computation: A game-semantic approach

Abstract

We survey recent developments in an approach to the verification of higher-order computation based on game semantics. Higher-order recursion schemes are in essence (programs of) the simply-typed lambda calculus with recursion, generated from uninterpreted first-order symbols. They are a highly expressive definitional device for infinite structures such as word languages and infinite ranked trees. As applications of a representation theory of innocent strategies based on traversals, we present a recent advance in the model checking of trees generated by recursion schemes, and the first machine characterization of recursion schemes (by a new variant class of higher-order pushdown automata called collapsible pushdown automata). We conclude with some speculative remarks about reachability checking of functional programs. A theme of the work is the fruitful interplay of ideas between the neighbouring fields of semantics and verification. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.