Best Free and Open Source Proof Assistants

F* – general-purpose, proof-oriented programming language

F* (pronounced F star) is a general-purpose, proof-oriented programming language designed for writing programs together with machine-checked proofs of their properties.

It combines dependent types with automated and interactive theorem proving. F* supports purely functional and effectful programming, using SMT solving, symbolic computation, and tactics to discharge proof obligations. Verified programs can be extracted to languages including OCaml and F#, while specialised toolchains support C, Rust, WebAssembly, and assembly output.

This is free and open source software.

Key Features

  • Dependent and refinement types for expressing precise program properties.
  • Supports both purely functional and effectful programming.
  • Automates proofs using SMT solving and symbolic computation.
  • Offers tactic-based interactive theorem proving.
  • Supports user-defined computational effects.
  • Combines programming and proofs in a single language.
  • Extracts verified code to OCaml and F#.
  • Supports low-level verified programming through Low* and KaRaMeL.
  • Provides specialised routes for generating C, Rust, WebAssembly, and assembly code.
  • Offers interactive development support for Emacs and Visual Studio Code.

Website: github.com/FStarLang/fstar
Support:
Developer: F* developers
License: Apache License 2.0


Related Software

Proof Assistants
CoqFormal proof management system
IsabelleGeneric proof assistant; express mathematical formulas in a formal language
AgdaInteractive system for writing and checking proofs
LeanProgramming language and theorem prover
MatitaExperimental, interactive theorem prover

Read our verdict in the software roundup.


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