jsCoq: Towards Hybrid Theorem Proving Interfaces
This work addresses the problem of accessibility and ease of use for learners and educators in theorem proving by providing a web-based, no-installation interface, though it is incremental as it adapts existing Coq technology to a new platform.
The authors developed jsCoq, a platform for the Coq interactive proof assistant that runs in web browsers without external servers, enabling users to start proof interactions immediately by clicking a link and including over 10 libraries. This self-contained system simplifies distribution and installation for educational purposes.
We describe jsCcoq, a new platform and user environment for the Coq interactive proof assistant. The jsCoq system targets the HTML5-ECMAScript 2015 specification, and it is typically run inside a standards-compliant browser, without the need of external servers or services. Targeting educational use, jsCoq allows the user to start interaction with proof scripts right away, thanks to its self-contained nature. Indeed, a full Coq environment is packed along the proof scripts, easing distribution and installation. Starting to use jsCoq is as easy as clicking on a link. The current release ships more than 10 popular Coq libraries, and supports popular books such as Software Foundations or Certified Programming with Dependent Types. The new target platform has opened up new interaction and display possibilities. It has also fostered the development of some new Coq-related technology. In particular, we have implemented a new serialization-based protocol for interaction with the proof assistant, as well as a new package format for library distribution.