# Rocq prover

> proof assistant

**Wikidata**: [Q1131652](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1131652)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocq)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/rocq-prover

## Summary
The Rocq prover is a proof assistant and dependently typed programming language used for formal verification and theorem proving. Developed in France since 1984, it is free and open-source software widely used in mathematics, computer science, and software engineering.

## Key Facts
- **Type**: Proof assistant, purely functional programming language, dependently typed programming language
- **Inception**: 1984
- **Developers**: Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (INRIA)
- **License**: GNU Lesser General Public License, version 2.1
- **Programming Paradigm**: Purely functional programming
- **Named After**: Thierry Coquand (French mathematician and computer scientist), Rocquencourt, "roc" (French for "rock"), and "stone"
- **Official Name Change**: From "Coq" to "The Rocq Prover" starting in 2025
- **Awards**: Programming Languages Software Award (2013), Open Science Award for Open Source Research Software (2022)
- **Platform**: Cross-platform
- **Programming Language**: Primarily implemented in OCaml

## FAQs
### Q: What is the Rocq prover used for?
A: The Rocq prover is used for formal proof development, theorem proving, and software verification. It is particularly valuable in fields requiring high assurance, such as mathematics and computer science.

### Q: Who developed the Rocq prover?
A: The Rocq prover was developed by the Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (INRIA) in France, with significant contributions from Thierry Coquand.

### Q: Is the Rocq prover free to use?
A: Yes, the Rocq prover is free and open-source software distributed under the GNU Lesser General Public License, version 2.1.

### Q: What programming paradigm does the Rocq prover follow?
A: The Rocq prover follows a purely functional programming paradigm and is a dependently typed programming language.

### Q: When was the Rocq prover first released?
A: The Rocq prover was first released in 1984.

## Why It Matters
The Rocq prover plays a crucial role in the field of formal verification and theorem proving. It provides a robust framework for developing and checking mathematical proofs, ensuring the correctness of software and hardware systems. By enabling the formal verification of complex systems, the Rocq prover helps prevent errors and vulnerabilities, which is particularly important in safety-critical applications such as aerospace, healthcare, and cybersecurity. Its open-source nature fosters collaboration and innovation, making it accessible to researchers and practitioners worldwide. The Rocq prover's influence extends beyond academia, impacting industries that rely on high-assurance software and formal methods.

## Notable For
- **Firsts**: One of the earliest and most influential proof assistants, pioneering the use of dependently typed programming languages for theorem proving.
- **Awards**: Recipient of the Programming Languages Software Award in 2013 and the Open Science Award for Open Source Research Software in 2022.
- **Open-Source**: Distributed under a permissive license, allowing users to freely run, study, change, and distribute the software.
- **Cross-Platform**: Compatible with multiple operating systems, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
- **Named After**: Unique naming inspired by Thierry Coquand and the French word for "rock" ("roc"), reflecting its solid foundation in formal logic.

## Body
### Overview
The Rocq prover is a proof assistant and dependently typed programming language designed for formal verification and theorem proving. It is developed and maintained by the Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (INRIA) in France.

### History
- **Inception**: The project began in 1984.
- **Name Change**: The official name will change from "Coq" to "The Rocq Prover" starting in 2025.
- **Awards**: The Rocq prover has received several prestigious awards, including the Programming Languages Software Award in 2013 and the Open Science Award for Open Source Research Software in 2022.

### Technical Details
- **Programming Paradigm**: The Rocq prover follows a purely functional programming paradigm and is a dependently typed programming language.
- **Implementation**: Primarily implemented in OCaml.
- **Platform**: Cross-platform, compatible with multiple operating systems.
- **License**: Distributed under the GNU Lesser General Public License, version 2.1.

### Key People
- **Thierry Coquand**: French mathematician and computer scientist after whom the Rocq prover is named.
- **Théo Zimmermann**: Researcher and computer scientist involved in the project.

### Related Software
- **Idris**: A purely functional programming language.
- **Lean**: Software for interactive and automated theorem proving.
- **Agda**: A dependently typed, purely functional programming language and proof assistant.

### Versions
- **8.5pl2**: Released on July 11, 2016.
- **8.6.1**: Released on July 25, 2017.
- **8.7.1**: Released on December 15, 2017.
- **8.7.2**: Released on February 15, 2018.
- **8.8.0**: Released on April 17, 2018.
- **8.9.1**: Released on May 20, 2019.

### Community and Resources
- **Website**: The official website will transition from `https://coq.inria.fr/` to `https://rocq-prover.org/` in 2025.
- **Source Code**: Available on GitHub at `https://github.com/coq/coq` (until 2025) and `https://github.com/rocq-prover/rocq` (from 2025).
- **Community**: Active community with resources available on platforms like Stack Exchange and Discourse.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "The Rocq Prover",
  "description": "A proof assistant and dependently typed programming language used for formal verification and theorem proving.",
  "url": "https://rocq-prover.org/",
  "sameAs": ["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206855", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coq"],
  "additionalType": "ProofAssistant"
}

## References

1. [Programming Languages Software Award](https://sigplan.org/Awards/Software/#2013_The_Coq_proof_assistant)
2. [Remise des prix science ouverte du logiciel libre de la recherche. 2022](https://www.ouvrirlascience.fr/remise-des-prix-science-ouverte-du-logiciel-libre-de-la-recherche/)
3. [Source](https://github.com/coq/coq/blob/master/LICENSE)
4. [The Coq proof assistant Open Source Project on Open Hub: Languages Page. Open Hub](https://www.openhub.net/p/coq/analyses/latest/languages_summary)
5. [Source](https://coq.inria.fr/news/130.html)
6. [Source](https://coq.inria.fr/news/135.html)
7. [Release 8.6.1. 2017](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.6.1)
8. [Coq 8.7.1 is out | The Coq Proof Assistant](https://coq.inria.fr/news/141.html)
9. [Release 8.7.1. 2018](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.7.1)
10. [coq: V8.7.2: Version 8.7.2 of Coq. It fixes a critical bug in the VM handling. 2018](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.7.2)
11. [Coq 8.8.0 is out | The Coq Proof Assistant](https://coq.inria.fr/news/145.html)
12. [Release 8.8.0. 2018](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.8.0)
13. [Source](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.9.1)
14. [Release 8.5. 2017](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.5)
15. [Release 8.6. 2017](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.6)
16. [Release 8.7.0. 2017](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.7.0)
17. [Release 8.8.1. 2018](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.8.1)
18. [Release 8.8.2. 2018](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.8.2)
19. [Release 8.9.0. 2019](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.9.0)
20. [Release 8.10.0. 2019](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.10.0)
21. [Release 8.10.1. 2019](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.10.1)
22. [Release 8.10.2. 2019](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.10.2)
23. [Release 8.11.0. 2020](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.11.0)
24. [Release 8.11.1. 2020](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.11.1)
25. [Release 8.11.2. 2020](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.11.2)
26. [Release 8.12.0. 2020](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.12.0)
27. [Release 8.12.1. 2020](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.12.1)
28. [Release 8.12.2. 2020](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.12.2)
29. [Release 8.13.0. 2021](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.13.0)
30. [Release 8.13.1. 2021](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.13.1)
31. [Release 8.13.2. 2021](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.13.2)
32. [Release 8.14.0. 2021](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.14.0)
33. [Release Coq 8.14.1. 2021](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.14.1)
34. [Release Coq 8.15.0. 2022](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.15.0)
35. [Release Coq 8.15.1. 2022](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.15.1)
36. [Release Coq 8.15.2. 2022](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.15.2)
37. [Release Coq 8.16.0. 2022](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.16.0)
38. [Release 8.16.1. 2022](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.16.1)
39. [Release 8.17.0. 2023](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.17.0)
40. [Release 8.17.1. 2023](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.17.1)
41. [Release 8.18.0. 2023](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.18.0)
42. [Release Coq 8.19.0. 2024](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.19.0)
43. [Release Coq 8.19.1. 2024](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.19.1)
44. [Release Coq 8.19.2. 2024](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.19.2)
45. [Release Coq 8.20.0. 2024](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V8.20.0)
46. [Release Rocq 9.0.0. 2025](https://github.com/coq/coq/releases/tag/V9.0.0)
47. [Rocq 9.1.0. 2025](https://github.com/rocq-prover/rocq/releases/tag/V9.1.0)
48. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
49. [About The Rocq Prover](https://rocq-prover.org/about#Name)
50. [Source](https://coq.inria.fr/community)