lean4-htt/tests/lean/run/quasi_pattern_unification_approx_issue.lean
Leonardo de Moura 118c909504 feat(frontends/lean/elaborator,library/type_context): fine grain unifier approximation control
Now, the elaborator only uses the quasi-pattern unifier approximation
for inferring the implicit motive in recursor-like applications.

This change was motivated by counterintuitive behavior associated with
this approximation. For example, before this commit

```
variables {δ σ : Type}

def ex1 : state_t δ (state_t σ id) σ :=
monad_lift (get : state_t σ id σ) -- doesn't work

def ex2 : state_t δ (state_t σ id) σ :=
do s ← monad_lift (get : state_t σ id σ), -- works
   return s
```

The first one doesn't work because when we elaborate
`@monad_lift ?m ?n ?c ?α (get : state_t σ id σ) : ?n ?α`
with expected type `state_t δ (state_t σ id) σ`
It first produces the following unification problem by processing
matching the inferred type with the expected one.
```
?n ?α =?= state_t δ (state_t σ id) σ
==> (approximate using first-order unification)
?n := state_t δ (state_t σ id)
?α := σ
```

Then we try to solve
```
?m ?α =?= state_t σ id σ
==> instantiate metavars
?m σ =?= state_t σ id σ
==> (approximate since it is a quasi-pattern unification constraint)
?m := λ σ, state_t σ id σ
```

Remark: the constraint is not a Milner pattern because `σ` is in
the local context of `?m`. By assuming it is a Milner pattern,
we are ignoring the other possible solutions:
```
?m := λ σ', state_t σ id σ
?m := λ σ', state_t σ' id σ
?m := λ σ', state_t σ id σ'
```

We need the quasi-pattern approximation for elaborating recursors.
So, this commit enable this kind of approximation only when
elaborating recursors and executing induction-like tactics.

If we had used first-order unification, then we would have produced
the right answer: `?m := state_t σ id`

Haskell would solve this example since it always uses
first-order unification during elaboration.

The second one works because when we elaborate
`monad_lift (get : state_t σ id σ)`, the expected type is `state_t δ (state_t σ id) ?α`.
So, `?m ?α =?= state_t σ id σ` will not considered to be a quasi-pattern
since `?α` is not yet assigned to a local constant.

We are not fully confident this commit produces a better user
experience. We know that

- Full higher-order unification (used in Lean2) produces a combinatoric
explosion, and generates a lot of non-termination in complex type class
hierarchies (monad library, has_coe, etc). The problem is that
higher-order unification manages to create new solutions that we
cannot find using first-order unification.

- Lean3 is more reliable than Lean2 for elaborating monadic code because
 it does not use higher-order unification.

- For elaborating recursor-like applications, we need at least the
quasi-patterns. We need it when trying to infer the implicit
motive. First-order unification works poorly in this case.  Note that
the lack of higher-order unification in Lean3 forces us to provide the
motive explicitly for terms that Lean2 can elaborate.

- We need quasi-patterns for solving unification constraints in the
induction-like tactics. Similar to the previous item. We use it to infer
the motive. (edited) I will try to disable the quasi-pattern
approximation when elaborating regular applications. At least, we will
behave like Haskell for this kind of application.
2018-04-24 15:09:19 -07:00

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variables {δ σ : Type}
def foo1 : state_t δ (state_t σ id) σ :=
monad_lift (get : state_t σ id σ)
/-
In Lean3, we used to use the quasi-pattern approximation during elaboration.
The example above demonstrates why it produces counterintuitive behavior.
We have the `monad-lift` application:
@monad_lift ?m ?n ?c ?α (get : state_t σ id σ) : ?n ?α
It produces the following unification problem when we process the expected type:
?n ?α =?= state_t δ (state_t σ id) σ
==> (approximate using first-order unification)
?n := state_t δ (state_t σ id)
?α := σ
Then, we need to solve:
?m ?α =?= state_t σ id σ
==> instantiate metavars
?m σ =?= state_t σ id σ
==> (approximate since it is a quasi-pattern unification constraint)
?m := λ σ, state_t σ id σ
Remark: the constraint is not a Milner pattern because σ is in
the local context of `?m`. We are ignoring the other possible solutions:
?m := λ σ', state_t σ id σ
?m := λ σ', state_t σ' id σ
?m := λ σ', state_t σ id σ'
We need the quasi-pattern approximation for elaborating recursors.
One option is to enable this kind of approximation only when
elaborating recursors and executing induction-like tactics.
If we had use first-order unification, then we would have produced
the right answer: `?m := state_t σ id`
Haskell would work on this example since it always uses
first-order unification.
-/
def foo2 : state_t δ (state_t σ id) σ :=
do s : σ ← monad_lift (get : state_t σ id σ),
return s