TL;DR
A Zenodo entry titled as a Show HN submission presents a Lean 4 formal proof claiming that single-source-of-truth (SSOT) architectures require definition-time hooks and runtime or compile-time introspection. The full text is not available in the source; only a brief listing with a comments indicator is shown.
What happened
A record published to Zenodo on 2026-01-08 was posted under the heading of a Show HN submission and is described as a Lean 4 proof addressing the relationship between SSOT (single source of truth) and language or tooling features. The title conveys the central claim: that SSOT approaches depend on mechanisms triggered at definition time and on some form of introspection. The Zenodo entry includes a comments marker, but the repository page referenced in the source does not provide the complete article text for review. Beyond the title and metadata, no detailed exposition of the proof, its formal statements, or its authorial and review context is available from the source material provided.
Why it matters
- If validated, the claim would bear on how developers and language designers think about enforcing single-source-of-truth patterns in systems and tooling.
- It could influence design decisions in proof assistants, language metaprogramming layers, and build tooling that aim to preserve authoritative definitions.
- Arguments connecting SSOT to definition-time hooks and introspection might affect best practices for API design, configuration management, and code generation.
- Formalizing such a claim in Lean 4 would make it accessible to mechanized verification workflows, with implications for reproducibility and automation.
Key facts
- The item is a Zenodo record published on 2026-01-08.
- The posted title frames the content as a Lean 4 proof relating SSOT to definition-time hooks and introspection.
- The entry is presented as a Show HN submission, indicating it was shared with the Hacker News community.
- The source excerpt available to this report contains only the single word 'Comments', suggesting a comment thread or discussion marker on the record page.
- The full article text is not available from the source provided here.
- Authorship details, proof content, and peer-review status are not provided in the source.
- No independent verification of the proof or its claims is present in the cited record.
What to watch next
- Publication or posting of the full proof text or accompanying materials — not confirmed in the source
- Responses and technical discussion on Hacker News or other developer forums concerning the proof's correctness — not confirmed in the source
- Follow-up updates on Zenodo or a linked repository with formal proof files or reproducible artifacts — not confirmed in the source
Quick glossary
- Lean 4: A modern version of the Lean theorem prover and programming language used for formalizing mathematics and writing machine-checkable proofs.
- SSOT (Single Source of Truth): A design principle where a single authoritative source holds canonical information to avoid duplication and inconsistency.
- Definition-time hooks: Mechanisms invoked when a symbol, type, or declaration is defined, allowing additional processing or registration at that moment.
- Introspection: The ability of code or tooling to examine its own structure or metadata, often at compile time or runtime.
Reader FAQ
What does the proof demonstrate in detail?
Not confirmed in the source.
Where was the item published and when?
The record appears on Zenodo and is dated 2026-01-08.
Can I read the full paper from the provided source?
No — the full article text is not available in the source material provided.
Who authored the proof and has it been peer reviewed?
Not confirmed in the source.
Comments
Sources
- Show HN: Lean4 proof that SSOT requires definition-time hooks and introspection
- A slightly longer Lean 4 proof tour | What's new – Terence Tao
- 3. Propositions and Proofs
- 2. Basics — Mathematics in Lean v4.19.0 documentation
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