Point-and-Write – Documenting Formal Mathematics by Reference

Abstract

This paper describes the design and implementation of mechanisms for light-weight inclusion of formal mathematics in informal mathematical writings, particularly in a Web-based setting. This is conceptually done in three stages: (i) by choosing a suitable representation layer (based on RDF) for encoding the information about available resources of formal mathematics, (ii) by exporting this information from formal libraries, and (iii) by providing syntax and implementation for including formal mathematics in informal writings. We describe the use case of an author referring to formal text from an informal narrative, and discuss design choices entailed by this use case. Furthermore, we describe an implementation of the use case within the Agora prototype: a Wiki for collaborating on formalized mathematics.

Wikis and Collaborative Systems for Large Formal Mathematics

“…A recent example is the Agora wiki prototype by Tankink [54]. Here, the user combines informal narratives written in the Creole syntax with antiquotations that allow transclusion of formal texts from an arbitrary formal library that has been suitably annotated using the OMDoc ontology developed by Lange [37,38].…”

Proof in Context — Web Editing with Rich, Modeless Contextual Feedback

“…The Agora 1 system is a prototype for a "Wiki for Formalized Mathematics" [6]: it provides web-based access to repositories of formal documents, allowing authors to write informal descriptions that include snippets of formal text [15].…”