anti_unify

Relational anti-unification for SWI-Prolog

anti_unify/3 is intended as a relational drop-in replacement for term_subsumer/3. It can handle cyclic data, as well as cases where cyclic data would be induced.

?- anti_unify(X, Y, f(P, Q)).
X = f(_XP, _XQ),
Y = f(_YP, _YQ),
anti_unify(_XP, _YP, P),
maplist(subsumes(P), [_XP, _YP]),
anti_unify(_XQ, _YQ, Q),
maplist(subsumes(Q), [_XQ, _YQ]).

?- anti_unify(X, Y, Z), Z = f(Y). % Example with induced cyclic data.
X = Y, Y = Z, Z = f(Z).

?- anti_unify(X, Y, Z), Z = g(_).
X = g(_A),
Y = g(_B),
Z = g(_C),
anti_unify(_A, _B, _C),
maplist(subsumes(_C), [_A, _B]).

See the unit tests in [test/anti_unify.plt](test/anti_unify.plt) for more examples.

Installation in SWI-Prolog

?- pack_install(anti_unify).

Testing

Executing the following goal from the top-level anti_unify directory should run all the tests:

?- consult("test/*.plt"), run_tests.

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(Note to self) To publish a new version:

1. update pack.pl
2. do GitHub release with new tag matching the pack.pl version
3. execute:

   swipl -g "make_directory(temp), pack_install(anti_unify, [url('https://github.com/GeoffChurch/anti_unify/archive/0.5.zip'), pack_directory(temp), interactive(false)]), delete_directory_and_contents(temp)" -t halt