Using Types as Approximations for Type Checking Prolog Programs

Abstract

Abstract. Subtyping tends to undermine the effects of parametric polymorphism as far as the static detection of type errors is concerned. Starting with this observation we present a new approach for type checking logic programs to overcome these difficulties. The two basic ideas are, first, to interpret a predicate type declaration as an approximation for the success set of the predicate. Second, declarations are extended with type constraints such that they can be more refined than in other conventional type systems. The type system has been implemented in a system called Typical which provides a type checker for Standard Prolog enriched with type annotations.