An Abstract Decision Procedure for Satisfiability in the Theory of Recursive Data Types

The theory of recursive data types is a valuable modeling tool for software verification. In the past, decision procedures have been proposed for both the full theory and its universal fragment. However, previous work has been limited in various ways, including an inability to deal with multiple constructors, multi-sorted logic, and mutually recursive data types. More significantly, previous algorithms for the universal case have been based on inefficient nondeterministic guesses and have been described in fairly complex procedural terms. We present an algorithm which addresses these issues for the universal theory. The algorithm is presented declaratively as a set of abstract rules which are terminating, sound, and complete. We also describe strategies for applying the rules and explain why our recommended strategy is more efficient than those used by previous algorithms. Finally, we discuss how the algorithm can be used within a broader framework of cooperating decision procedures