Logic Programming, Functional Programming, and Inductive Definitions

TL;DR

This paper explores unifying logic and functional programming by viewing logic programs as inductive definitions, proposing a skeletal language design, and discussing a prototype implementation to bridge the two paradigms.

Contribution

It introduces a novel perspective that treats logic programs as inductive definitions, providing a new framework for integrating logic and functional programming.

Findings

Proposes a new interpretation of logic programs as inductive definitions.

Sketches a skeletal language design based on this interpretation.

Discusses a prototype implementation demonstrating the approach.

Abstract

An attempt at unifying logic and functional programming is reported. As a starting point, we take the view that "logic programs" are not about logic but constitute inductive definitions of sets and relations. A skeletal language design based on these considerations is sketched and a prototype implementation discussed.